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CENTENNIAL   DISCOURSE, 


DELIVERED    SEPTEMBER  9,   1850, 


THE  FIRST   CHURCH   AND   SOCIETY  IN  ATHOL, 


CELEBRATION  OF  THE  ONE  HUNDREDTH  ANNIVERSARY 
OF  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  SAID  CHURCH. 


AN    APPENDIX 


By    SAMUEL    F.    CLARKE, 

MINISTER   OF  THE  FIRST  CHURCH   IN   ATHOL. 


"  Behold  the  pattern  of  the  altar  of  the  Lord  which  our  fathers  made.' 


BOS  TON: 

WM.    CROSBY    &   H.    P.    NICHOLS, 

111  Washington  Street. 

1851. 


C  A  M  B  R  I  D  G  E  : 

METCALf      AND      COMPANY. 

PRINTERS   TO   THE   UNIVERSITY. 


To  the  Rev.  S.  F.  Clarke. 

Sir  :  — 

At  a  meeting  this  day  held,  by  numerous  citizens  of  Athol,  who  were 
deeply  impressed  with  the  historical  value  of  the  Discourse  you  delivered 
on  the  hundredth  anniversary  from  the  organization  of  the  First  Church 
in  this  town,  the  undersigned  were  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with 
you  and  to  request  a  copy  for  the  press. 

Henry  W.  Carter, 
Theodore  Jones, 
Jonathan  Stratton,  ^Committee. 
George  Sprague, 
John  Kendall, 
Athol,  Sept.  15,  1850. 


To  Henry  W.  Carter,  Theodore  Jones,  Esq.,  Jonathan  Stratton, 
George  Sprague,  and  John  Kendall. 

Gentlemen  :  — 

Your  note,  requesting  a  copy  of  my  Centennial  Discourse  for  publica- 
tion, is  before  me. 

I  am  happy,  if  the  efforts  which  I  have  made  to  rescue  the  early  his- 
tory of  this  town,  and  especially  the  ecclesiastical  history  of  the  First 
Parish,  from  oblivion,  are  esteemed  of  any  service.  My  purpose  was 
simply  to  record  the  historical  facts,  and,  after  having  read  the  same  before 
the  anniversary  meeting,  to  place  the  manuscript  with  the  parish  records 
for  future  reference.  But  if  it  is  the  wish  of  those  you  represent  to  give 
the  record  of  these  facts  a  more  permanent  form,  and  render  them  of  freer 
access  to  the  public,  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  refuse  your  request ;  and 
therefore  I  herewith  transmit  a  copy  of  the  Discourse,  which  is  at  your 
disposal. 

Very  truly,  &c, 

Yours, 

S.  F.  Clarke. 

Athol.  Nov.  5,  1850. 


DISCOURSE. 


But  little  more  than  a  century  ago,  this  whole  township  of 
land  was  one  unbroken  wilderness.  No  white  man's  axe  had 
felled  a  tree.  Huge  and  lofty  pines,  with  majestic  oak  and 
sturdy  chestnut,  covered  these  hills  and  plains.  Here  stood 
the  primeval  forest.  Within  its  deep,  solemn  shade  prowled 
the  wolf  and  the  bear.  The  deer  and  the  moose  roamed  quiet- 
ly upon  these  meadows,  or,  startled  by  the  approach  of  foes, 
shook  the  morning  dew  from  the  slopes  and  heights  around. 
In  the  thick  underbrush  on  the  hill-sides,  the  turkey  and  the 
partridge  reared  their  numerous  broods,  while  the  duck  swam 
gracefully  upon  the  secluded,  lonely  waters,  all  undisturbed, 
save  by  the  eagle's  scream  or  the  red  man's  arrow.  No  dam 
but  the  beaver's  impeded  the  progress  of  the  streams  along  the 
valleys  in  their  whole  course  to  the  Connecticut.  Trout  and 
pickerel,  herring,  shad,  and  salmon,  moved  quietly  along  the 
silent  eddies,  or  darted  up  the  noisy  rapids  ;  while  over  all  these 
ravines  and  hills  and  valleys  and  plains  wild  Nature  wrapped 
her  verdant  mantle,  and  breathed  her  solemn  air. 

The  river  that  then,  as  now,  wound  round  these  wild  hills, 
and  gave  to  the  spot  its  chief  attraction,  the  Indians  called  Pe- 
quoiag.  (A.)  From  this  the  territory  here  derived  its  name, 
which,  by  a  vote  of  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  that 
passed  both  houses  in  July,  1732,  was,  in  October  and  No- 
vember of  the  same  year,  surveyed  and  laid  out  into  a  town- 
ship  six  miles  square,  and    designated    by  its   Indian    name. 


6 

Within  this  township  there  were  originally  laid  out  sixty-three 
house-lots,  of  which  one  was  for  the  first  settled  minister,  one 
for  the  ministry,  one  for  the  school,  and  one  for  each  of  the 
sixty  settlers.      (B.) 

A  plan  of  the  township,  now  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of 
State,  Boston,  upon  which  these  house-lots  are  delineated, 
was  surveyed  by  William  Chandler,  and  accepted  by  the  Coun- 
cil, June  ISth,  1734. 

Two  days  after,  June  26th,  the  proprietors  met  at  Concord, 
and,  in  presence  and  by  authority  of  a  committee  of  the 
"  Great  and  General  Court,"  of  which  Hon.  William  Dudley 
was  chairman,  were  admitted  to  draw  their  house-lots  as  set- 
tlers in  the  township  of  Pequoiag  on  Miller's  River.      (C.) 

The  next  year,  on  the  17th  day  of  September,  1735,  might 
have  been  seen  five  of  these  proprietors,  with  their  families,  just 
arrived  through  the  wilderness  from  Hatfield,  building  their 
fires  and  cooking  their  frugal  meal  within  the  solemn  shade  of 
this  unbroken  forest.  These  were  Richard  Morton,  Ephraim 
Smith,  Samuel  Morton,  John  Smeed,  and  Joseph  Lord. 
(D.) 

They  had  come  to  take  up  their  abode  on  these  unimproved 
hills,  and  commence  the  first  civilized  settlement  in  the  Indian 
town  of  Pequoiag.  Here  they  built  their  cabins  and  spent  the 
winter,  being  obliged  to  go  to  Hatfield  for  the  greater  part  of 
their  provision,  and  to  transport  it  to  the  settlement  on  their 
shoulders,  with  only  marked  trees  to  guide  their  steps  for  a 
greater  part  of  the  way.  To  add  to  their  cares  and  comforts 
during  this  first  lonely  winter,  three  of  these  pioneer  men  had 
each  a  son  born  to  him  in  the  forest.      (D.) 

Soon  after,  probably  the  next  spring,  these  families  were 
joined  by  a  number  of  other  settlers,  but  how  many  cannot  now 
be  ascertained.  Among  these  later  settlers  were  Aaron  Smith, 
Samuel  Dexter,  Ephraim  Smith,  Noah  Morton,  Robert  Young, 
Nathaniel  Graves,  Eleazer  Graves,  Robert  Marble,  William 
Oliver  and  his  three  brothers,  John,  James,  and  Robert,  most, 
if  not  all  of  whom,  belonged  to  the  original  company  of  settlers 
formed  at  Hatfield.  The  Olivers  were  direct  from  Ireland, 
stout,  hardy,  resolute  men.     Robert  Young  was  from  the  North 


of  Scotland,  whence  he  removed  to  Cork,  in  Ireland,  and 
subsequently  to  this  country.  He  was  a  weaver  by  profes- 
sion, and  removed  from  Holliston,  in  the  County  of  Middlesex, 
to  Pequoiag.      (E.) 

The  settlement  was  commenced  here  by  the  five  pioneer 
spirits  under  discouraging  circumstances.  They  were  alone 
with  their  families  in  an  entire  wilderness,  which,  on  account  of 
the  abundance  offish  and  wild  game  that  this  locality  afforded, 
was  a  familiar  haunt  for  the  Indians.  Of  necessity  the  settlers 
were  destitute  of  most  of  the  usual  comforts  of  life  and  the 
common  implements  of  husbandry,  obliged  to  journey  on  foot 
more  than  thirty  miles  through  the  pathless  woods  for  all  the 
means  of  sustenance  which  the  gloomy  wild  of  the  forest  did 
not  afford.  But  they  were  men  of  resolute  spirits,  and  were 
joined  with  helpmeets  resolute  as  themselves,  able  and  willing 
to  share  their  trials.  The  prospect  of  new  and  early  paren- 
tal responsibilities  was  before  them,  but  did  not  deter  them 
from  their  enterprise.  They  had  drawn  their  house-lots  here, 
and  here  they  were  resolved  to  fix  their  habitations  and  rear 
their  families. 

It  is  probable  that  they  located  their  dwellings  and  spent 
the  first  winter  together,  about  a  mile  south  of  the  present  site 
of  the  middle  of  the  town,  on  what  is  now  called  the  Street. 
Richard  Morton,  it  is  said,  built  the  first  log  hut,  on  the  place 
subsequently  occupied  by  his  grandson,  Joel  Morton,  near  the 
house  in  which  Mr.  Lynde  Smith  now  lives.  Doctor  Joseph 
Lord  settled  on  the  place  now  owned  by  Mr.  J.  Harvey  Hum- 
phrey, near  the  spot  on  which  the  "  Old  Humphrey  House" 
now  stands.  It  is  probable  that,  if  other  houses  were  built  the 
first  winter,  they  were  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  On  that  loca- 
tion, without  doubt,  was  commenced  the  first  settlement  of  the 
town.  Near  this  place,  after  the  arrival  of  other  settlers,  they 
built  their  fort  and  their  meeting-house.  Previously,  however, 
to  the  erection  of  the  meeting-house  on  the  Street,  a  house  for 
public  worship  had  been  raised  on  a  little  rise  of  land  just  east 
of  the  "  Old  Burying  Ground,"  about  sixty  rods  southeast  of 
the  present  railroad  station,  on  the  bank  of  Mill  Brook,  near 
the  saw-mill  now  owned  by  Ethan  Lord  and  Samuel  Newhall. 


This  house  was  never  finished,  but  was  burned  soon  after  it  was 
erected,  either  by  accident,  or,  as  some  say,  by  the  Indians. 

Very  soon  after  the  first  settlement,  probably  the  next  year, 
clearings  were  commenced  in  different  parts  of  the  town. 
Samuel  Morton  made  his  "  pitch  "  on  the  place  known  as  the 
"Henry  Lee  Farm,"  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  John 
Waite.  Aaron  Smith  settled  on  the  place  where  Richard 
Moors  now  lives.  Robert  Young  made  his  "  pitch  "  on  the 
Street,  near  to  Richard  Morton,  on  the  place  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  Mr.  Woodcock.  James  Stratton  settled  on  the 
Street  where  Mr.  Thomas  Babbit's  house  now  stands.  Noah 
Morton,  who  came  a  few  years  after  the  first  settlers,  located 
on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  David  Harwood.  Chestnut  Hill 
and  Lyon's  Hill,  so  called,  were  among  the  localities  first  im- 
proved by  the  settlers. 

These  early  settlers  were  bound  together  by  the  strongest 
ties  of  interest,  friendship,  and  love.  Their  privations  and  tri- 
als and  dangers  served  to  unite  still  more  closely  and  firmly  the 
natural  bonds  of  affection.  "  The  friendship  among  these  peo- 
ple, one  towards  another,  was  without  a  parallel."  *  All  lived 
in  fear,  and  each  stood  ready  to  succour  the  other  in  time  of  need. 

To  guard  themselves  from  the  attack  of  the  Indians  who  fre- 
quented these  meadows,  and  who  felt  keenly  the  wrongs  their 
people  had  received  from  the  whites,  the  settlers  not  only  car- 
ried their  arms  about  them  at  their  work,  but  also  built  several 
forts,  in  which,  at  the  close  of  day,  or  at  the  alarm  of  danger, 
all  the  families  in  the  vicinity  convened  for  mutual  safety  and 
protection. 

The  first  and  principal  one  of  these  garrisons  was  located  on 
the  Street,  then  called  "  East  Pequoiag  Hill,"  about  twenty 
rods  from  where  the  meeting-house  was  subsequently  built. 
The  well  which  was  within  this  fort  marks  the  spot  where  it 
stood,  from  which  water  is  now  introduced  through  pipes  into 
the  house  of  Mr.  James  Humphrey.  Another  fort  was  located 
in  the  northwesterly  part  of  the  town,  on  what  was  then  called 
"  West  Hill,"  on  the  spot  where  Mr.  Jonathan  Harwood's 
house  now  stands.      The  fort-well  was  formerly  used  by  Mr. 

*  Mr.  Humphrey's  MS. 


Harwood.  Another  fort  was  built,  subsequently  it  is  probable, 
on  the  spot  upon  which  the  Pequoiag  House  in  the  village  is 
now  located. 

In  these  forts  the  settlers  slept  and  spent  much  of  their  time. 
There  are  those  still  living  in  town  who  have  heard  their  ances- 
tors relate  how,  as  night  spread  its  mantle  of  darkness  over  the 
forest,  and  around  their  infant  settlement,  all  would  gather  to- 
gether in  the  garrison  and  sit  silently  without  lights,  listening 
with  a  cautious  ear  to  every  external  sound,  querying  if  each 
uncommon  noise  might  not  be  the  signal  of  danger  from  the 
hostile  Indians. 

At  this  remote  day,  situated  as  we  are,  surrounded  by  all  the 
comforts  of  civilized  life,  we  can  hardly  conceive  of  the  priva- 
tions and  anxiety  which  these  early  settlers  were  obliged  to 
endure.  Still,  the  danger  experienced  here  from  the  Indians 
was  less  imminent  than  that  to  which  some  of  the  earlier  settle- 
ments in  this  vicinity  were  subjected. 

The  natives  had,  at  this  period,  become  reduced  in  numbers, 
and  somewhat  discouraged.  They  had  seen  their  rich  meadow 
lands  along  the  fertile  valleys  of  the  Deerfield  and  the  Con- 
necticut encroached  upon  and  somewhat  thickly  settled  by  the 
whites.  They  had  seen  the  white  man  plant  the  corn  lands  of 
their  fathers.  They  had  heard  his  axe  and  watched  his  clear- 
ing-fires on  the  hunting-grounds  they  had  occupied  for  centu- 
ries. Their  fisheries  had  fallen  into  his  hands.  Their  game 
had  fled  before  the  approach  of  civilization.  They  had  seen 
their  own  wigwams  demolished  to  make  room  for  the  dwellings 
of  their  civilized  foes.  They  had  been  compelled  gradually, 
settlement  by  settlement,  to  yield  up  the  most  dearly  cherished 
of  their  once  wild  and  happy  homes.  They  had  seen  from 
their  ambush  the  white  man's  plough  tear  open  the  graves  of 
their  fathers.  Many  and  bloody  were  the  struggles  they  made 
to  redress  their  grievous  wrongs,  and  regain  their  lost  rights. 
But  in  vain.  They  had  lost  the  control  of  the  Connecticut. 
Its  meadows  waved  with  luxuriant  crops,  but  they  were  in 
the  possession  of  the  aggressors.  Lancaster  and  Leominster 
and  Worcester  were  gone  from  them  also.  On  the  Nashua 
and  the  Merrimack  civilization  had  swept  away  the  red  man's 
2 


10 

villages.  Frequently,  we  may  suppose,  the  wronged  Indian, 
in  his  sorrow,  climbed  the  lofty  heights  of  the  distant  Monad- 
noc,  and  surveyed  in  sadness  and  tears  the  extensive  encroach- 
ments which  the  English  had  made  upon  the  domain  over  which 
his  race  had  held  dominion  for  more  than  a  thousand  years.  It 
was  worth  his  dying  to  regain  these  lost  rights.  But  most  of 
his  tribe  had  already  fallen  in  the  vain  attempt.  To  obtain  pos- 
session of  the  valuable  river  lands  was  more  than  the  sagacious 
son  of  the  forest  could  hope.  What  remained  here  was  hardly 
worth  contending  for, — a  tract  of  broken,  hilly,  mountainous 
land,  nowise  remarkable  for  its  fertility.  Through  this,  how- 
ever, flowed  the  Pequoiag  River.  It  abounded  in  excellent 
fish.  On  its  banks  were  some  rich  meadows  fruitful  with  wild 
grain.  Game  from  the  river  towns  had  retreated  into  these 
woods  ;  so  that  it  was  not  without  grief,  that  the  aborigines 
first  beheld  the  smoke  of  our  fathers'  fires  curling  up  from  yon- 
der hill.  They  had  been  driven  from  the  Deerfield,  the  Con- 
necticut, the  Nashua,  and  the  Merrimack,  and  now  they  must 
leave  the  Pequoiag  also.  We  cannot  wonder  if  such  reflec- 
tions as  these  did  at  times  stir  the  feeling  of  revenge  in  the 
bosoms  of  these  wronged  and  uncultivated  natives. 

Under  these  circumstances  those  who  had  taken  up  their 
abode  here  had  sufficient  cause  to  fear  attacks  from  these  tribes  ; 
and  though  this  settlement  suffered  little  in  comparison  with 
some  others,  still,  considering  the  small  number  of  its  inhabit- 
ants, this  town  endured  its  full  share  of  Indian  depredations. 

The  increased  hostilities  incident  upon  the  war  between 
France  and  England,  which  commenced  in  the  year  1744,  kept 
the  settlement  at  Pequoiag  for  several  years  in  a  constant  state 
of  fearful  excitement,  and  seriously  interrupted  the  agricultural 
pursuits  of  the  inhabitants.  Those  who  planted  their  field,  or 
attempted  to  secure  their  crops,  did  so  at  the  imminent  risk  of 
their  lives.  The  Indians  were  continually  lurking  about  these 
meadows  and  hills,  seeking  for  scalps  and  prisoners  and  plun- 
der. Their  first  victim  was  Mr.  Ezekiel  Wallingford,  who  cul- 
tivated land  on  "West  Hill,"  and  resided  at  the  time  of  the 
calamity  in  the  fort  constructed  for  the  protection  of  that  loca- 
tion, and  situated,  as  before  remarked,  on  the  site  where  the 
house  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Harwood  now  stands. 


11 

Supposing  that  he  heard  bears  in  his  cornfield  one  evening, 
Mr.  Wallingford  wentfrout  to  watch.  He  was  advised  not  to  ^^A 
venture,  lest  there  might  he  Indians  in  the  vicinity.  It  proved 
that  the  apprehensions  of  his  friends  were  well  founded  ;  for  he 
soon  discovered  that  the  Indians,  having  deceived  him  by  imi- 
tating the  noise  of  bears  in  the  corn,  were  surrounding  him. 
Turning  immediately  on  perceiving  his  mistake,  he  endeavoured 
to  regain  the  fort,  about  a  hundred  rods  distant ;  but  in  passing 
a  fence  he  was  stopped  by  a  ball  from  the  enemy,  which  frac- 
tured his  thigh.  The  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife  put  an  in- 
stant end  to  his  life,  August  17,  1746. 

iVlarm  guns  were  immediately  fired  from  the  fort,  which 
were  answered  by  a  similar  discharge  of  fire-arms  from  the  gar- 
rison on  the  Street,  to  which  the  fort  in  Petersham  quickly  re- 
sponded. The  excitement  was  intense.  There  was  no  sleep 
that  night  in  Pequoiag  ;  and  before  the  morning  sun  looked 
over  these  hills,  the  soldiers  of  both  towns  assembled  and  joined 
in  an  unsuccessful  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 

The  next  spring,  in  April  or  May,  Mr.  Jason  Badcock,  while 
looking  for  his  cows  on  the  meadow  near  the  junction  of  Tully 
Brook  with  Miller's  River,  was  suddenly  surprised  and  fired 
upon  by  the  Indians.  Being  slightly  wounded,  Mr.  Badcock 
was  taken  prisoner  by  his  pursuers,  and- was  carried  captive  to 
Canada.  But  in  about  four  months,  having  been  redeemed, 
he  returned  to  his  former  home  in  Pequoiag,  where  he  resided 
for  many  years  near  the  pond  which  still  bears  his  name,  —  a 
beautiful  sheet  of  water,  secluded  by  woods  and  hills,  which 
render  it  an  inviting  rural  retreat  for  the  lovers  of  natural  scenery 
in  the  villages.  Some  apple-trees  still  mark  the  location  of 
Mr.  Badcock's  dwelling  at  the  time  he  was  taken  captive. 
Subsequently  he  removed  to  Waterford,  Vt.,  where  Mr.  Jere- 
miah Morton,  our  townsman,  visited  him,  and  received  from 
him  the  narrative  of  his  captivity. 

About  the  time  of  Mr.  Wallingford's  death,  so  alarming 
were  the  dangers,  and  so  great  was  the  insecurity  of  the  place, 
that  several  families  left  the  town  and  sought  safety  in  "Fort 
Massachusetts,"  or  "  Hoosac  Fort,"  which  "  stood  on  the 
bank  of  Hoosac  River,  in  "  the  town  of  Hoosac,  now  "  Adams, 


12 

about  three  miles  and  a  half  east  of  Williamstown."  * 
Among  these  was  the  family  of  Mr.  ]£1$bu  Smeed.  But  even 
/  in  this  fort  there  was  no  more  security  than  in  the  one  at  Pe- 
quoiag.  On  the  20th  of  August  of  the  same  year,  1746,  but 
three  days  after  Mr.  Wallingford  was  killed,  the  fort  was  at- 
tacked by  an  army  of  about  nine  hundred  French  and  Indians, 
under  General  De  Vaudreuil.  Colonel  Hawks,  who  at  that 
time  commanded  the  garrision,  having  with  him  but  twenty-two 
effective  men,  and  but  thirty-three  persons  in  all,  men,  women, 
and  children,  after  a  defence  of  twenty-eight  hours,  but  not  un- 
til his  ammunition  was  spent,  surrendered  the  fort,  which  was 
demolished,  and  the  whole  garrison,  including  Mr.  Smeed  and 
wife,  two  sons,  and  his  little  daughter  Mary,  then  six  years  old, 
were  taken  prisoners.  One  of  the  prisoners,  being  sick,  was 
killed  by  the  Indians.  Little  Mary  Smeed  fell  into  the  hands 
of  a  Frenchman,  who  was  very  pleasant  and  kind  to  her. 

The  first  evening  after  her  capture,  looking  out  from  the  tent 
in  which  she  was  to  pass  the  night,  she  saw  her  two  brothers, 
whom  she  supposed  she  should  never  see  again,  as  she  feared 
they  would  all  be  massacred  the  next  day.  Her  master,  having 
nicely  wrapped  her  in  a  blanket,  laid  himself  down  to  rest,  with 
his  little  prize  by  his  side,  where,  composing  herself,  she  soon 
fell  asleep.  But  her  slumbers  were  not  undisturbed.  Waking 
in  the  night,  she  resolved  she  would  see  her  brothers  once  more. 
So  this  stout-hearted  little  Athol  girl  got  up  quietly  from  her 
master's  side  and  went  out  of  the  tent  at  dead  of  night  into 
the  open  air  in  the  wild  forest,  it  being  dark  and  rainy,  to  seek 
for  her  brothers  among  the  sleepers  on  the  wet  ground.  She 
thought  to  recognize  them  by  feeling  of  their  hair.  At  length, 
after  considerable  search,  she  felt  two  whom  she  concluded 
must  be  her  brothers.  Accordingly,  the  affectionate  little  sis- 
ter, delighted  at  her  supposed  discovery,  pressed  herself  down 
between  them,  and  once  more  fell  asleep.  Her  master,  missing 
her  upon  his  waking,  took  a  torch  and  went  out  to  search  for 
his  little  captive  among  the  sleepers.  Aware,  perhaps,  of  the 
motives  which  induced  the  child  to  leave  his  tent,  on  finding 


Mass.  Hist.  Col.,  Vol.  VIII.  p.  48. 


13 

and  waking  her,  he  held  his  torch  that  she  might  see  where  she 
had  lain  ;  when  to  her  utter  astonishment  and  fright,  instead  of 
her  brothers,  little  Mary  saw  that  she  had  been  nestling  between 
two  of  the  most  grim  and  frightful  Indians  !  With  a  fluttering 
heart  and  willing  step  she  followed  her  master  back  to  his  tent. 

This  little  girl  was  obliged  to  travel,  with  the  other  captives, 
on  foot  through  the  wild  wilderness  to  Quebec,  exposed  to  all 
the  hardships  and  dangers  and  trials  incident  to  Indian  captivity. 
In  the  course  of  a  year  her  mother  died.  After  a  captivity  of 
about  two  years  they  were  ransomed,  and  the  remainder  of  the 
family  were  transported  in  a  ship  to  Boston,  and  from  thence 
to  their  former  home  at  Pequoiag. 

Shortly  after  their  return  to  this  town,  Mr.  Smeed,  being 
abroad  on  business,  was  shot  by  the  Indians.  The  family  was 
broken  up  in  consequence.  Little  Mary  was  placed  in  the 
family  of  Rev.  Timothy  Woodbridge,  of  Hatfield,  where  she 
remained  till  womanhood,  when  she  married  Mr.  Aaron  Wil- 
lard,  and  removed  with  him  to  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  and  subse- 
quently to  Hartland,  Vt.,  where  she  died  of  cancer,  January  3, 
1829.* 

Another  of  the  first  settlers,  Mr.  Josiah  Holmes,  lost  his 
life  in  consequence  of  sickness  brought  on  by  exposure  and  fa- 
tigue, "  experienced  while  guarding  and  defending  the  garrison 
in  which  the  little  flock  was  obliged  to  resort  for  shelter  and 
safety."!    (F.) 

Under  all  these  trials  and  discouragements,  the  fathers  of  our 
present  prosperity  labored  with  persevering  fortitude.  They 
cleared  up  their  farms,  built  their  log  huts,  planted  their  rocky 
fields,  and  secured  their  scanty  crops.  They  early  availed 
themselves  of  the  water  power,  which,  from  that  time  to  the 
present,  has  been  the  principal  means  of  growth  which  the 
town  affords. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  by  adjournment  on  the 
18th  day  of  October,  1738,  a  grant  of  sixty  acres  of  land  was 

*  Mrs.  Willard  was  born  at  Athol  in  the  year  1710.  To  her  only  sur- 
viving son,  Mr.  Aaron  Willard,  of  Hartford,  Vt. ,  I  am  indebted  for  this 
account,  communicated  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Harriott  Hamilton. 

f  Mr.  Humphrey's  MS. 


14 

made  "  to  Mr.  Samuel  Kendall  (G.)  for  building  a  corn  mill 
and  keeping  it  in  Repair  for  ye  space  of  ten  years,  so  as  to 
Grind  for  ye  Above  said  Proprietors."  *   (H.) 

It  is  probable  that  the  mill  built  by  Mr.  Kendall,  or  his  son, 
was  the  first  erected  in  town,  and  was  located  near  where  Mr. 
Stillman  Knowlton's  machine-shop  now  stands,  at  the  point  of 
land  where  the  stream  which  carries  Mr.  Knowlton's  machinery 
divides  from  Miller's  River.      Such  is  the  tradition.    (1.) 

Gradual  prosperity  attended  the  settlement.  All  lived  to- 
gether for  many  years  in  harmony. 

The  principal  man  among  the  company  of  settlers,  as  it  ap- 
pears, both  for  education  and  influence,  was  Mr.  Joseph  Lord, 
the  first  clerk  of  the  proprietors,  which  office  he  continued  to 
hold  up  to  October  18,  1749,  when,  at  a  legal  meeting  of  the 
proprietors,  Mr.  Abner  Lee  was  elected  in  his  place.    (J.) 

Mr.  Lord  was  not  only  the  first  clerk  of  the  propriety,  but  he 
was  also  the  first  doctor,  the  first  preacher,  the  first  magistrate, 
the  first  treasurer,  the  first  tax-gatherer,  the  first  surveyor,  "  in 
fact,"  as  my  manuscript  authority  has  it,  he  was  "  Boss  and 
all  hands."  f  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  he  was  the  leading 
spirit  in  Pequoiag  for  many  years.  But,  unfortunately,  some 
misunderstanding  at  length  arose  between  him  and  the  proprie- 
tors, which  was  the  occasion  of  much  excitement,  and  prob- 
ably hard  feeling,  between  them. 

Mr.  Lord  refused  to  give  up  the  records  of  the  propriety,  to 
obtain  possession  of  which  the  proprietors  made  many  fruitless 
efforts.  At  length,  after  the  expiration  of  nearly  ten  years,  at 
a  legal  meeting  of  the  proprietors  held  October  11,  1758,  it 
was  voted,  "  That  it  is  the  desire  of  the  proprietors  that  the 
committee"  chosen  for  the  purpose  "  do  forthwith  commence 
any  action  or  actions  at  law,  if  they  judge  it  expedient,  against 
the  said  Joseph  Lord,  for  the  recovery  of  any  books,  records, 
plans,  or  writings  in  any  way  appertaining  to  the  proprietors, 
or  for  the  settling  any  accounts  or  concerns  with  the  said  Jo- 
seph respecting  the  proprietors."!     The  result  of  the  litigation 


*  Propiietors'  Book,  p.  10.  -j-  Mr.  Spooner's  MS. 

J  Proprietors'  Book,  pp.  140,  141. 


15 

was  judgment  against  Dr.  Lord,  rendered  by  the  court,  No- 
vember, 1759,  for  one  thousand  pounds,  to  be  recovered  of 
said  Lord  by  the  proprietors  for  his  neglect  to  deliver  up  the 
records,  plans,  &c,  belonging  to  the  propriety.    (K.) 

But  before  the  court  rendered  judgment,  Dr.  Lord  absconded 
from  the  Province  ;  consequently  his  estates  and  effects  were 
taken  on  execution,  and  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  proprietors. 
What  became  of  the  books,  records,  plans,  &c,  is  not  known, 
except  that  they  were  never  recovered  by  the  proprietors. 

What  was  the  particular  cause  of  the  misunderstanding  be- 
tween the  proprietors  and  Dr.  Lord,  or  what  portion  of  blame 
belonged  to  either  party,  it  is  impossible  now  satisfactorily  to 
determine.*    (L.) 

The  loss  of  all  the  early  records  of  the  propriety  was  a  seri- 
ous evil,  and  one  which  renders  it  extremely  difficult  to  make 
out  a  full  and  accurate  account  of  the  early  history  of  the  town- 
ship. Fortunately,  however,  the  records  of  the  important  pro- 
ceedings of  the  proprietors  relative  to,  and  in  connection  with, 
this  church  are  preserved  entire. 

*  Dr.  Lord  was  son  of  Joseph  Lord  of  Charlestown,  who  was  gradu- 
ated at  Harvard  College  in  1091,  and  was,  subsequently,  minister  of 
Charleston,  S.  C.  (Farmer's  Genealogical  Register  ;  Dr.  Pierce's  inter- 
leaved Triennial  Catalogue.)  He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in 
1726,  and  practised  medicine  for  a  time,  it  is  probable,  in  Sunderland, 
near  Hatfield  (Trien.  Cat.  interleaved  with  notes  by  Nicholas  Gilman, 
Grad.  H.  C.  1724),  from  whence  he  came  with  the  first  settlers  to  this 
town  in  1735.  Dr.  Lord  went  from  Pequoiag  to  Putney,  Vt.,  then  New 
Hampshire,  "  where  he  resided  for  about  thirty  years,  when  he  removed 
across  the  river  to  Westmoreland,  N.  H.,  where  he  died  ["  December  7, 
1788,  in  the  85th  year  of  his  age"  *].  While  he  lived  in  Putney,  Dr. 
Lord  held  for  a  few  years  a  commission  of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was 
also  appointed  a  judge  of  the  court  for  Cumberland,  now  Windham,  Coun- 
ty, which  office  he  held  till  the  American  Revolution.  Tradition  says  that 
he  was  a  man  of  considerable  parts,  and  that  he  was  respected  by  those 
who  knew  him." 

The  above  quotation  is  from  a  letter  received  from  Rev.  Amos  Foster, 
of  Putney,  and  was  dictated  to  him  by  Rev.  Broughton  White,  of  Putney, 
who,  in  early  life,  was  acquainted  with  Dr.  Lord. 

*  From  the  inscription  on  his  gravestone,  copied  for  me  by  Rev.  Stephen  Rogers 
of  Westmoreland. 


16 

The  period  intervening  between  the  arrival  of  the  first  set- 
tlers and  the  organization  of  the  First  Church  comprises  about 
fifteen  years.  The  fathers  of  thistown  were  not,  however,  the 
men  to  remain  destitute  of  public  worship  during  so  long  a  time, 
situated  though  they  were  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness,  desti- 
tute of  many  of  the  comforts  of  life.  One  of  their  first  public 
acts  was  to  build  a  meeting-house.  (M.)  This  was  burnt.  Still 
they  were  not  discouraged.  Another  was  erected  on  "  East 
Pequoiag  Hill"  or  Street,  as  before  remarked,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  highway,  near  the  fort. 

There  are  those  still  living  in  town,  who  not  only  have  a 
sweet  recollection  of  this  ancient  house  where  our  fathers  wor- 
shipped, but  also  a  remembrance  of  the  old  "  Stocks"*  along- 
side of  it,  which  those  order-loving  fathers  thought  indispensa- 
ble for  the  proper  punishment  of  those  who  were  so  forgetful  of 
decency  as  to  violate  the  decorum  which  belongs  to  the  Sab- 
bath sanctuary. 

In  this  house,  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath,  the  few  inhabitants 
of  the  place  were  accustomed  to  meet  for  public  worship,  though 
for  several  years  without  the  services  of  a  regular  minister. 
Dr.  Lord,  who  was  then  in  good  repute  with  the  proprie- 
tors, being  a  somewhat  "  gifted  "  man,  in  addition  to  his  many 
other  responsibilities,  officiated  in  the  capacity  of  preacher.  At 
length  they  secured  the  occasional  services  of  a  professed  min- 
ister, as  appears  from  the  record  of  votes  passed  by  the  pro- 
prietors,—  such,  for  instance,  as  the  following:  —  "Oct.  18, 
1749.  Voted,  that  Mr.  Brown  be  allowed  for  one  Day's 
Preaching,  five  Pounds,  Old  Tenor."  This  is  the  first  record 
extant  of  any  provision  made  for  preaching  in  the  settlement ; 

*  These  stocks  were  made  of  two  large  thick  planks,  set  up  edgewise 
and  rendered  immovable,  the  lower  one  having  spaces  cut  in  the  upper 
edge  for  the  reception  of  the  culprits'  ankles ;  while  the  top  one  was  hung 
fast  to  it  upon  hinges,  and  so  fitted  as  to  swing  and  shut  close  down  upon 
the  one  beneath,  thus  rendering  it  impossible  for  the  feet  of  the  offender 
to  be  withdrawn,  when  it  was  made  fast  with  a  lock,  and  the  unfortunate 
prisoner  left  lying  upon  his  back  on  the  ground,  in  no  very  enviable  or 
comfortable  position.  These  instruments  of  order  were  the  terror  of  noisy 
boys  and  unruly  men. 


17 

but  as  the  early  records  are  lost,  it  is  possible,  perhaps  proba- 
ble, that  they  employed  a  regular  preacher  previous  to  this 
date.  That,  from  poverty  or  some  other  cause,  they  were 
not  always  prompt  in  paying  their  ministers,  is  apparent  from 
the  following  vote,  passed  March  26,  1761,  probably  at  least 
eleven  years  after  the  money  was  due. 

"Voted,  43dly,  That  the  Prudential  Committee  be  desired, 
with  all  convenient  speed,  to  know  how  much  the  Proprietors 
are  indebted  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Timothy  Brown,  and  to  the  Rev. 
John  Mellen,  and  to  pay  them,  —  and  to  give  them  such  an  al- 
lowance as  they  shall  judge  reasonable  for  their  being  kept  out 
of  their  money  so  long  a  time." 

The  last  clause  of  the  vote  breathes  a  redeeming  influence 
over  this  long  neglect  of  duty. 

It  is  probable  that  the  first  considerable  effort  to  settle  a 
minister  was  made  in  the  year  1749,  and  that  Mr.  Brown  and 
Mr.  Mellen  preached  here  during  that  year.* 

The  next  ecclesiastical  record  entered  in  the  Proprietors' 
Book  is  as  follows:  — 

"  At  a  legal  Meeting  of  the  Propriety,  held  on  the  third 
Wednesday  of  May,  1750,"  — of  which  Samuel  Kendall  was 

*  Of  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  I  can  learn  little,  except  that  he  probably  was 
graduated  at  Harvard  University,  A.  D.  1729,  and  settled  for  a  time  at 
Little  Compton,  R.  I.  (See  Dr.  Belknap's,  Winthrop's,  and  Dr.  Pierce's 
interleaved  Triennial  Catalogues.) 

Rev.  Mr.  Mellen,  undoubtedly,  was  Rev.  John  Mellen,  first  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  Church  in  Sterling.  Very  likely  he  left  his  people  for 
a  few  Sabbaths,  as  preachers  in  those  days  not  unfrequently  did,  to  supply 
a  destitute  parish,  and  to  aid  and  encourage  them  in  providing  for  the  set- 
tlement of  a  minister. 

He  "  was  born  March  14,  1722;  graduated  at  Harvard  University  1741 ; 
thirty-four  years  pastor  of  the  church  at  Sterling ;  twenty-one  years  at 
Hanover;  died,  July  4,  1807."  —  "  Mr.  M.,  in  his  time,  probably  stood 
at  the  head  of  the  clergy  of  the  county."  {Worcester  Magazine,  Vol. 
II.  pp.  224,  217.)  He  was  one  of  those  pastors  of  his  age  who  ventured  to 
oppose  the  more  rigid  theological  doctrines  of  Calvin,  —  in  which  the  laity 
in  these  parts  had  been  almost  exclusively  educated,  —  and  taught,  some- 
what modified,  the  more  liberal  views  of  Arminius.  History  of  Sterling, 
in  Worcestrr  Magazine,  which  see  for  a  full  account  of  Mr.  Mellen,  and 
his  dismission  from  his  parish. 

3 


18 

Moderator,  —  "Voted,  that  we  choose  an  Orthodox  minister 
to  settle  in  this  Place.  Voted,  That  Mr.  James  Humfries,  our 
present  Preacher,  be  the  Orthodox  minister  in  this  Place." 

Mr.  Humphrey  had  been  supplying  the  pulpit  at  Pequoiag 
for  several  months  at  the  time  these  votes  were  passed,  as  ap- 
pears from  the  record  of  a  subsequent  meeting,  June  27,  1750, 
whereat  it  was  voted,  "  That  Mr.  James  Humfries  be  allowed 
Eighteen  Pounds  lawful  money  for  Preaching  in  this  Place  from 
the  10th  of  December,  1749,  to  the  16th  of  May,  1750,  being 
Eighteen  Sabbaths." 

Tradition  says  that  Mr.  Robert  Marble  was  appointed  a 
committee  to  go  to  Dorchester  and  engage  Mr.  Humphrey  to 
come  up  here  and  preach  as  a  candidate.  Accordingly,  having 
provided  himself  with  a  horse,  saddle,  and  saddle-bags,  Mr. 
Marble  set  out  on  his  successful  errand  after  the  first  minister 
of  this  Church.  About  to  return, —  provisions  and  effects,  and 
wardrobe  and  sermons,  being  carefully  stowed  away  in  the 
saddle-bags,  —  the  minister  having  mounted,  Mr.  Marble,  with 
becoming  respect,  took  his  seat  behind  his  future  pastor,  and  thus 
they  turned  their  faces  towards  the  promised  land.  At  length, 
the  horse  getting  weary,  Mr.  Marble  took  upon  himself  the 
duty  of  footman  ;  and  so  the  journey  was  continued,  the  minis- 
ter, with  condescending  kindness,  occasionally  dismounting, 
while  his  faithful  companion  took  the  grateful  seat  in  the  saddle, 
and  relieved  for  an  hour  his  weary  limbs.  But,  notwith- 
standing the  compassion  for  the  beast  which  allowed  but  one 
to  ride  at  a  time,  so  long  was  the  way,  so  bad  were  the  roads, 
and  so  steep  the  hills  in  this  vicinity,  that,  some  miles  short  of 
their  journey's  end  the  horse  became  so  jaded,  it  was  found 
necessary  for  both  minister  and  attendant  to  avail  themselves  of 
their  pedestrial  ability,  and  drive  their  sorry  nag  before  them  to 
the  little  settlement  at  Pequoiag. 

At  the  same  meeting  at  which  it  was  agreed  to  give  Mr. 
Humphrey  a  call,  the  terms  of  settlement  to  be  offered  him 
were  agreed  upon,  and  it  was  "  Voted,  That  we  give  Mr. 
James  Humfries,  our  present  Preacher,  the  sum  of  Fifty 
Pounds  lawful  money  of  this  Province  of  the  Massachusetts 
Bay,  per  Annum,  while  he  continues  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel 


19 

Ministry  in  this  Place,  —  and  farther,  add  to  that  Right,  or 
whole  share  of  Land,  in  the  Township  of  Pequoiag  laid  out  by 
the  General  Court  for  the  first  Minister  of  sd  Pequoiag,  of  which 
the  House  Lott  on  East  Pequoiag  Hill  on  the  west  side  of  the 
High  Way  Number  Eight  is  Part,  —  the  Sum  of  Sixty  Six 
Pounds  thirteen  Shillings  and  four  Pence  lawful  money  of  the 
Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  to  be  paid,  one  half  within 
one  Year  after  his  Ordination,  the  other  half  within  one  Year  after 
the  Payment  of  the  first  Half,  if  he  accepts  of  the  work  of  the 
Gospel  Ministry  in  this  Place."  * 

"  Voted,  That  Lieut.  Richard  Morton  and  Mr.  Robert 
Marble  and  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Graves  be  a  Committee  to  see 
whether  Mr.  Humfries  will  accept  of  his  Call  to  the  Gospel 
Ministry  in  this  Place."  A  committee  was  also  appointed  at 
this  meeting  to  "  repair  the  Meeting  House." 

Mr.  Humphrey  seems  to  have  been  very  deliberate  in  con- 
sidering the  duty  of  accepting  the  call  extended  to  him  ;  for  al- 
though the  proprietors  held  several  meetings,  apparently  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  receiving  his  answer,  yet  it  appears  that  he  did 
not  communicate  it  till,  "  at  a  legal  meeting,  after  repeated  ad- 
journments from  May  16,  1750,  to  August  Sth  ensuing,"  the 
proprietors  "  Voted,  That  Nathaniel  Graves  wait  upon  Mr. 
James  Humfries  for  his  answer  to  settle  with  them  in  the  work 
of  the  Gospel  Ministry";  whereupon,  "the  said  Nathaniel 
Graves  waited  upon  Mr.  Humfries  and  brought  his  answer  in 
Writing  under  his  Hand,  which  was  read  publicly  in  the  Meet- 
ing," and  then  ordered  to  be  "entered  upon  the  Proprietors' 
Records." 

"Mr.  Humfries'  Answer,  viz.:  — 

"  To  the  Proprietors  of  the  New  Township,  called  Pequoiag, 
at  their  Meeting  continued  by  Adjournment  from  May  16th  to 
August  Sth  ensuing.  — 

"  Gentle11, 

"  I  received  by  the  Hand  of  Lieut.  Richard  Morton 
a  Copy  of  your  Votes  passed  at  your  Meeting  on  the  16th 
of   May  last   respecting  my  settling  among  you   in   the    Ca- 

*  Proprietors'  Book,  p.  126. 


20 

pacity  of  a  Gospel  Minister.  And  in  Answer  thereto,  —  In 
the  first  Place,  I  do  heartily  thank  you  for  the  good  will  you 
have  expressed  to  me  in  your  Invitation.  After  mature  De- 
liberation upon  the  important  affair,  I  now  signify  my  accept- 
ance of  the  Salary  and  Encouragement  you  have  given  me  to 
Settle  in  the  Work  of  the  Ministry  among  you  in  this  Place,  in 
Case  the  Propriety  will  make  me  an  Addition  of  Forty  Shillings 
lawful  money  to  your  former  Encouragement  for  my  Annual 
Support,  —  and  if  it  please  God  in  his  aldisposing  Providence 
regularly  to  introduce  me  into  the  Pastoral  Office  over  you,  I 
hope  by  his  grace  and  Spirit  I  shall  be  enabled  in  some  good 
measure  to  fulfil  my  Ministry. 

"  So  I  remain  with  hearty  Regards  your 
"  Servant  in  Christ  Jesus, 

"  James   Humfrey. 

"  Pequoiag,  Augst  8,  1750."* 

After  the  above  letter  was  read,  it  was  "  Voted,  That  Mr. 
Humfrey  has  Forty  Shillings  lawful  money  of  this  Province 
added  to  the  former  Encouragement  we  have  given  Him  for 
his  Annual  Support,  or  Salary."  At  the  same  meeting  it  was 
voted,  "  That  Lt.  Morton,  Lt.  Graves  and  Robert  Marble 
are  chosen  a  Committee  to  agree  with  Mr.  Humfrey  when  the 
Ordination  shall  be,  —  Also  that  they  take  Care  to  send  to  a 
Neighbouring  Minister  or  Ministers  to  assist  them  in  a  Fast  and 
in  Gathering  a  Church  in  this  Place."  f 

The  work  of  organizing  a  church  in  the  wilderness,  and  or- 
daining a  pastor  over  it,  is  now  fully  determined  upon  ;  and 
these  few  settlers  have  set  about  it  in  lively  earnest.  They  are 
duly  sensible  of  the  importance  of  this  noble  enterprise. 
They  have  carried  forward  for  a  kxv  years  their  infant  settle- 
ment. They  have  built  a  few  log  huts  "  eighteen  feet  square 
and  seven  feet  stud";  around  each  dwelling  they  have  re- 
deemed a  few  acres  from  the  forest  wild  ;  they  have  built  their 
meeting-house  on  the  hill  yonder,  under  the  cover  of  their 
strongest  fort ;  they  have  engaged  in  mutual  worship  there  ; 
they  have  had  occasional  preaching  ;  but  they  are  not  satisfied. 

*  Proprietors'  Book,  pp.  128,  129.  f  Ibid.,  p.  129. 


21 

Their  children  are  growing  up  unbaptized,  and  without  the  in- 
fluence of  a  Christian  pastor  to  mould  their  religious  character. 
Keenly  they  feel  this  deprivation  ;  and  though  in  numbers  few, 
and  in  pecuniary  ability  weak,  they  resolve  to  remedy  so  great 
an  evil. 

After  this  manner  we  may  suppose  those  devout  fathers, 
as  they  sat  together  on  a  Sabbath  evening,  at  set  of  sun,  be- 
neath the  tall  pines  that  cast  their  lengthening  shadows  across 
their  narrow  clearings,  would  converse  on  this  solemn  duty:  — 
"  This  will  not  do.  Our  children  must  be  nurtured  in  the 
fear  and  admonition  of  the  Lord.  The  lambs  of  the  flock  will 
be  lost  without  a  shepherd  to  take  care  of  them.  No  settlement 
can  flourish  where  God  is  not  worshipped.  If  we  expect  to  be 
protected  in  the  forest,  we  must  be  ready  to  do  our  Father's 
will.  The  Sabbath  day  must  be  kept  holy.  The  ordinances 
of  God  must  be  observed.  The  Church  of  Christ  must  be  es- 
tablished here  ;  and  we  must  bow  ourselves  in  prayer,  and 
sacrifice  our  evil  desires  at  the  shrine  of  its  holy  altar." 

Such  were  the  sentiments  that  stirred  the  souls  of  these 
primitive  settlers,  and  moved  them  to  action.  A  few  doubting 
or  selfish  spirits  may  have  objected  ;  but  if  so,  their  objections 
were  little  heeded.  The  committee  chosen  for  the  purpose 
obeyed  their  instructions,  and  sent  invitations  to  the  neighbour- 
ing ministers  to  come  and  assist  them  in  forming  the  first  Chris- 
tian church  in  the  new  township  of  Pequoiag. 

The  29th  day  of  August,  1750,  O.  S.,  is  a  day  never  to  be 
forgotten  in  the  annals  of  our  Church  history.  Just  one  hun- 
dred years  ago  to-day  might  have  been  seen  three  reverend 
clergymen,  dressed  after  the  fashion  of  the  times,  in  large  pow- 
dered wigs,  surmounted  by  the  three-cornered  clerical  hat,  with 
the  ministerial  coat,  and  small  clothes  which  were  met  at  the 
knees  by  long,  smooth  silk  or  worsted  stockings,  the  feet  of 
which  were  protected  in  soft  calf  or  deer  skin  shoes,  fastened 
together  with  large,  shining  silver  buckles.  These  were  Rev. 
Samuel  Kendall,  first  minister  of  New  Salem,  Rev.  Abraham 
Hill,  first  minister  of  Shutesbury,  and  Rev.  Aaron  Whitney, 
first  minister  of  Petersham. 

On  that  day,  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  which  we  now 


22 

commemorate,  these  faithful  ministers  of  Christ  "  met  at  Per- 
quage,  and  after  Solemn  Prayer  to  God,  they  gathered  the 
Church  and  it  was  Imboded  and  each  member  signed  the 
Covenant."  * 

One  hundred  years  ago  !  How  instinctively  do  our  thoughts 
turn  back  over  the  lapse  of  the  century  that  has  passed  to  the  old 
meeting-house  on  yonder  hill,  in  which  the  few  inhabitants  of 
the  place  are  religiously  observing  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  ! 
We  see  them  now,  those  men  of  pious  hearts,  bending  in 
solemn  prayer  to  God  for  guidance  and  direction  in  their  sa- 
cred enterprise.  With  rapt  attention  even  now  we  listen  to 
the  reading  of  the  church  covenant,  which  is  offered  for  these 
pious  men  to  accept  as  their  bond  of  faith  and  union.  It  is  a 
most  interesting  document.  (N.)  With  solemn  voice  it  is  ut- 
tered, sentence  by  sentence,  to  the  deeply  interested  assembly  ; 
and  then,  after  the  pastor  elect,  Richard  Morton,  Nathaniel 
Graves,  Abraham  Nutt,  Robert  Marble,  Samuel  Morton, 
Nathan  Wait,  Eleazer  Graves,  Ephraim  Smith,  and  Aaron 
Smith  walk  up  to  the  table,  and  affix  their  rude  signatures  to 
this  solemn  covenant. 

The  church  is  now  formed.  The  members  are  but  ten  in 
number,  including  the  pastor,  but  they  are  the  men  of  influence 
in  the  settlement.  Their  names  are  an  earnest  of  success. 
Once  more  they  bow  themselves  together  in  prayer,  and  sup- 
plicate the  blessing  of  God  upon  the  act  they  have  now  con- 
summated ;  and  then  in  reverential  order  they  withdraw  from 
the  house  of  worship. 

One  hundred  years  have  gone  by  !  Those  venerable  fathers 
have  passed  away.  In  the  old  graveyard  yonder  in  the  woods, 
on  the  bank  of  the  murmuring  brook,  where  they  built  their  first 
church,  their  bones  lie  buried.  The  mounds  of  their  resting- 
place  are  almost  obliterated  ;  for,  shameful  to  relate,  the  irrev- 
erent and  ungrateful  ploughshare  has  torn  open  their  graves  ! 
But  the  church  they  gathered  still  survives,  and,  in  grateful  re- 
membrance, on  this  deeply  interesting  occasion,  offers  its  ready 
tribute  of  praise  to  those  who  formed  it. 


*  Church  Book,  p.  2. 


23 

The  fast  being  over,  and  the  church  being  duly  organized, 
active  preparations  were  made  for  the  coming  ordination,  —  an 
event  of  no  ordinary  moment  in  the  early  history  of  New  Eng- 
land. 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  September  5,  1750, 
a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  "to  Provide  for  Mr.  Hum- 
frey's  Ordination."  Lieutenant  Graves,  Lieutenant  Morton, 
Mr.  Nutt,  Mr.  Samuel  Morton,  and  Mr.  Aaron  Smith  were 
appointed  "  a  Committee  to  make  a  Boat  to  cross  Miller's 
River  so  big  as  to  carry  two  Horses  at  once."  Lieutenant 
Graves,  Lieutenant  Morton,  and  Mr.  Robert  Marble  were 
chosen  "  a  Committee  to  sign  the  Letters  to  send  to  the  several 
Churches  in  order  to  ordain  Mr.  Humfrey." 

The  date  of  the  ordination  is  authenticated  by  the  following 
record,  entered  in  the  Church  Book  in  the  handwriting  of  the 
first  minister  :  — 

"  Perquage,  November  the  7,  1750.  An  Ecclesiastical 
Council  convened  in  Perquage  ;  the  Council  consisted  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  in  Dorchester,  ye  Chh.  in  Hatfield,  ye  Chh. 
in  New  Salem,  ye  Chh.  in  Roadtown,  *  ye  Chh.  in  Nitcha- 
woag,  f  and  ordained  Mr.  James  Humfrey  Pastor  over  the 
Chh.  and  Congregation  in  said  Place. 

"  Attested  by  Jonathan  Bowman,  Mod." 

Of  the  proceedings  of  the  ordaining  council  I  can  learn 
nothing.  Undoubtedly  the  churches  above  named  were  repre- 
sented on  the  occasion  by  their  respective  ministers  ;  viz.  the 
church  in  Dorchester  by  Rev.  Jonathan  Bowman,  the  church 
in  Hatfield  by  Rev.  Timothy  Woodbridge,  the  church  in 
New  Salem  by  Rev.  Samuel  Kendall,  the  church  in  Road 
Town  by  Rev.  Abraham  Hill,  and  the  church  in  Nichewaug 
by  Rev.  Aaron  Whitney. 

Rev.  James  Humphrey  was  bom  at  Dorchester,  Mass., 
March  20,  1722,  and  was  graduated  at  Harvard  University  in 
the  year  1744.  Of  his  early  education  nothing  is  known, 
except  that  he  descended  from  most  respectable  and  pious 
ancestors.    (O.)      It  is  very  probable  that  he  pursued  his  pro- 

*  Now  Shutesbury.  f  Now  Petersham. 


24 

fessional  studies  with  Rev.  Jonathan  Bowman,  the  minister  of 
his  native  town  at  the  time  of  his  ordination.  But  of  this  there 
is  no  positive  evidence. 

Mr.  Humphrey  commenced  his  duties  as  pastor  of  this  town 
under  very  trying  and  discouraging  circumstances.  His  salary 
was  small, — a  trifle  over  twenty  shillings  a  week.  His  pa- 
rishioners were  few,  —  no  more  than  he  was  able  and  accus- 
tomed to  call  upon  with  ease  between  breakfast  and  dinner. 
From  the  best  information  obtained,  I  cannot  persuade  myself 
that  there  were  more  than  twenty  families  in  the  place  at  the 
time  of  his  ordination.  These  were  in  constant  danger  from 
the  hostile  Indians.  Even  while  assembled  in  the  meeting- 
house, on  the  Sabbath,  they  felt  obliged  to  keep  their  arms  by 
them,  and  to  station  some  of  their  number  at  the  "  door-posts," 
as  sentinels,  to  guard  against  surprise  from  "  their  devouring 
enemy,  whilst  others  were  worshipping  God  within."  *  "  For 
three  successive  years  "  f  did  the  first  minister  of  Pequoiag 
carry  his  weapons  of  defence  into  his  pulpit,  and  preach  with 
his  gun  by  his  side.  Behold  them  now,  those  early  settlers 
of  this  present  flourishing  and  populous  town,  in  the  time  of 
their  trials,  assembled,  on  a  winter's  day,  in  their  small,  rude 
house  of  worship.  The  storm  is  beating  without.  There 
is  no  fire  within.  The  cold  wind  howls  mournfully  among  the 
surrounding  trees.  The  light  snow  is  sifting  through  the  nu- 
merous crevices.  There  are  no  pews  there,  save  one.  |  Upon 
some  rough  planks  arranged  on  rude  blocks  are  seated  the  fa- 
thers of  the  church,  dressed  in  stout  woollen  frocks,  with  then- 
snow-shoes  lying  by  them,  and  their  bear-skin  caps  hanging 
upon  the  muzzles  of  their  faithful  guns,  which  rest  against  their 
shoulders.  The  pastor,  too,  has  hung  his  three-cornered  hat 
upon  his  own  trusty  musket,  which  leans  upon  the  pulpit's  rough 
side,  and  is  now  earnestly  dispensing  the  solemn  truths  of  the 
Gospel  to  his  few  serious  and  attentive  hearers. 

The  fathers,  and  mothers,  and  children,  all  are  there.     Fear 
is  no  stranger  to  their  hearts,  though  the  sentinels  are  at  the 

*  Mr.  Humphrey's  MS.,  before  referred  to.  |  Ibid. 

J  Dr.  Lord's. 


25 

door-posts.  The  preacher,  too,  is  conscious  of  their  danger, 
but  he  bids  them  put  their  trust  in  God.  Possibly  he  has 
chosen  these  words  of  the  Psalmist  for  his  text:  —  "  Wait  on 
the  Lord,  be  of  good  courage,  and  he  shall  strengthen  thine 
heart."  He  alludes  to  their  privations  and  numerous  hardships 
with  true  sympathy,  and  then  cheers  and  comforts  the  despond- 
ing of  his  flock  with  happy  quotations  from  sacred  writ.  "  The 
Lord  is  my  shepherd,  I  shall  not  want."  tw  Cast  thy  burden 
upon  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  sustain  thee."  "  The  Lord  is 
great  and  greatly  to  be  praised."  "  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  for  the  Lord  God  is  righteous  in  all  that  he  does."  Such 
preaching  did  them  good.  Under  its  influence  they  were  hap- 
py, notwithstanding  their  trials,  and  lived  "  in  perfect  friend- 
ship one  with  another,  and  their  minister."  * 

The  next  year  after  his  settlement,  Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey 
was  married  to  Miss  Esther  Wiswell,  of  Dorchester,  a  lady  of 
high  respectability  and  much  energy  of  character,  and  who  dur- 
ing a  long  and  useful  life  was  highly  esteemed  and  much  re- 
spected by  the  people  of  this  town.  The  record  of  his  marriage 
is  thus  entered  upon  the  Church  Book  in  his  own  handwriting  : 
—  "Dorchester,  October  the  9th,  1751.  James  Humfrey 
and  Esther  Wiswell  was  married,  and  the  third  day  of  Novem- 
ber we  got  home  to  Perquage." 

t  The  occasion  of  the  return  of  their  pastor  with  his  young  and 
accomplished  bride  was  one  of  lively  and  exciting  interest  to 
the  unpolished  but  affectionate  parishioners  of  Pequoiag.  Be- 
fore the  sun  had  dissipated  the  dew  on  the  morning  of  the  3d 
of  November,  a  company  of  happy  men  and  joyous  youth, 
mounted  on  horseback,  each  with  his  good  wife  or  smiling 
maiden  seated  on  the  pillion  behind  him,  were  riding  over  the 
old  street,  now  moving  with  cautious  step  along  the  obstructed 
path,  and  now  galloping  in  frolicsome  glee  across  some  open 
plain,  full  of  high  anticipation,  on  their  way  to  Barre  to  welcome 
the  arrival  of  their  absent  pastor,  and  escort  him  with  his  pol- 
ished bride  within  the  precincts  of  their  own  rude  but  happy 
homes.      That  was  a  joyous  day  for  the  settlers  on  these  hills. 

*  Mr.  Humphrey's  MS. 

4 


26 

The  few  who  remained  were  busy  making  due  preparation  for 
the  reception  of  so  important  a  personage  as  their  pastor's  wel- 
come bride. 

Margery  Morton,  the  first  white  female  born  in  this  town, 
then  a  girl  of  thirteen  summers,  was  left  at  home  to  assist  in 
serving  up  the  wedding  supper.  The  oven  of  which  she  had 
charge  was  located  without  the  house, — a  circumstance  not 
uncommon  in  those  days.  Within  it  were  smoking  the  choicest 
dishes  the  united  parish  could  afford.  The  pies  she  had  made 
with  her  own  hands,  and  she  was  anticipating  with  joyous 
pride  —  we  will  not  call  it  sinful  in  one  so  young  —  the  praise 
she  might  receive  for  her  skill  at  pastry  from  the  accomplished 
bride  of  her  reverend  pastor.  But  while  these  and  like  thoughts 
were  engaging  her  attention,  the  warm  savor  from  the  oven's 
rare  contents  had  attracted  the  notice  of  some  rude  boys,  who, 
in  common  with  the  rest  of  the  settlement,  were  enjoying  a 
holiday  on  the  occasion  of  their  pastor's  wedding.  Never  be- 
fore had  their  senses  feasted  upon  viands  so  delicious  and  in- 
viting. The  temptation  proved  too  strong  for  their  unstable 
principles  to  resist,  and  when  the  young  cook  bounded,  with  a 
light  step  and  joyous  heart,  to  set  the  fruits  of  her  extra  labor 
upon  the  waiting  table,  lo  !  no  pies  were  there  !  Sad,  sad, 
indeed  was  her  disappointment  ;  and  even  when  in  her  extreme 
old  age  she  used  to  relate  the  story  of  her  misfortune,  it  was 
hard  for  good  old  "  Aunt  Margery  "  to  suppress  a  little  of  the 
same  indignant  spirit  which,  for  a  moment,  got  the  better  of 
her  wonted  good-humor  when  first  she  discovered  her  loss. 

For  more  than  twenty  years  after  his  settlement,  the  pastor 
and  people  of  this  town  seem  to  have  lived  together  in  uninter- 
rupted harmony.  During  this  period  record  is  made  of  but 
three  church  meetings, — one  of  the  surest  evidences  of  the 
tranquil  and  happy  condition  of  the  church. 

During  this  long  period  of  peace  and  prosperity,  the  discipline 
exercised  by  the  church  was  probably  of  a  mild  and  judicious 
character.*    Vexed  questions  in  theology,  which  about  that  time 

*  The  first  vote  ever  passed  by  this  church  was  (December  7,  1750), 
"  That  no  person  should  be  required  to  make  a  Relation  when  they  were 
admitted  into  the  Church,"  —  an  expression  of  the  good  sense  which  di- 
rected the  church  policy. 


27 

agitated  many  New  England  churches,  were,  most  likely,  very 
seldom,  if  ever,  discussed  by  the  pastor.  Indeed,  it  is  probable 
that  Mr.  Humphrey  was  not  much  of  a  theologian.  What 
were  his  peculiar  doctrinal  tenets  cannot  now  be  determined, 
except  from  a  knowledge  of  the  current  theology  of  those  days, 
and  from  the  church  covenant  which  he  subscribed.  This  is 
somewhat  Trinitarian  and  Calvinistic  in  its  character.  We 
have,  however,  no  reason  to  suppose  it  was  in  those  times  very 
strictly  construed,  since  it  does  not  appear  that  any  person  was 
required  to  sign  the  covenant  upon  joining  the  church  for  at 
least  twenty-five  years  from  its  formation,  — not  until  after  dis- 
satisfaction with  the  pastor  was  manifested  on  the  part  of  some 
of  the  members. 

The  first  circumstance  that  occurred  to  disturb  the  quiet  of 
the  little  church  at  Pequoiag  was  the  same  which  interrupted 
the  harmony  of  very  many  churches  in  Massachusetts  and  vi- 
cinity some  seventy-five  or  eighty  years  ago,  namely,  the  in- 
novation which  about  that  time  was  made  in  the  old  custom  of 
singing.  Formerly  the  deacon  read  the  hymns,  two  lines  at  a 
time,  which  were  immediately  sung  by  the  choir  or  congrega- 
tion, when  two  more  were  "deaconed  out,"  which  also  were 
executed  by  the  singers,  and  so  on,  till  the  entire  hymn  was 
read  and  sung.  Now,  it  was  voted  both  by  the  church  and 
congregation  to  dispense  with  the  deacon's  service  in  the  ex- 
ercise of  singing  the  hymns.  This  simple  change,  like  all  other 
improvements  in  religious  forms,  was  regarded  by  some  as  an 
unhallowed  desecration  of  religious  worship.  The  vote  was  a 
close  one  ;  in  the  church  eighteen  yeas  and  eleven  nays  ;  the 
congregation  voted  thirty-three  in  favor  of  the  change  and 
twenty-eight  against  it  (June  10,  1773).  Two  months'  time 
was  allowed  by  the  church  "  for  the  people  to  Provide  them- 
selves with  Psalm  Books  before  they  Sing  without  reading." 
The  completion  of  the  new  meeting-house  on  the  common, 
and  the  opening  of  the  same  for  public  worship  just  about  this 
time,  may  have  had  a  tendency  to  hasten  on  this  innovation. 

But  the  old-fashioned  way  of  singing  was  not  to  be  given  up 
without  another  effort  to  sustain  it.  Accordingly,  at  the  desire 
of  William  Oliver,  Seth  Twitchel,  John  Oliver,  Abraham  Nutt, 


28 

and  William  Bigelow,  a  meeting  was  called  to  see  if  the  church 
and  congregation  would  reconsider  their  former  vote  ;  but  there 
was  still  a  majority  of  three  or  four  in  the  church,  and  seven  in 
the  congregation,  in  favor  of  abiding  by  the  former  decision  to 
dispense  with  the'  deacon's  reading.  "  Upon  consideration," 
however,  ".to  pacify  and  ease  the  mind  of  the  aggrieved  party, 
the  church  consented  to  read  with  singing  half  the  time  for  four 
sabbaths  upon  the  aggrieved  party  attending  on  the  public  wor- 
ship." This  vote  shows  how  keenly  the  minority  felt  the  inno- 
vation. Nor  did  reading  half  the  time  for  four  Sabbaths  entirely 
quiet  their  disturbed  minds.  Church  meetings  are  more  fre- 
quent now  than  formerly.  Deacon  David  Twitchel  resigns 
his  office  in  the  church.  Two  years  after,  Mrs.  Susannah 
Haven,  conscientiously  anxious,  no  doubt,  to  let  posterity 
know  how  true  she  was  to  the  better  form  of  worship,  expressed 
her  dissent  from  the  change  in  the  following  protest,  which  was 
entered  upon  the  church  records. 

"  Mrs.   Susannah  Haven's  Public  Declaration. 

"  To  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Jlthol  and  Congregation  in  said 
Town. 
"  Whereas,  in  divine  providence  my  Lott  hath  been  ordained 
in  this  Town,  where  I  have  enjoyed  God's  word  and  ordinance, 
which  I  think  are  dear  to  me  ;  and  should  esteem  it  a  great 
Privilidge  Still  to  enjoy  them  ;  but  as  the  Church  and  Congre- 
gation hath  altered  their  manner  of  Singing  ;  it  hath  been  and  is 
much  to  my  Dissatisfaction  and  grief,  as  I  am  not  able  to  see 
how  the  Continuing  the  Bass  between  the  Lines  of  the  Tenor, 
is  consistent  with  Singing  with  the  Spirit  and  Understanding 
also,  as  it  appears  to  me  that  the  Understanding  must  be  use- 
less in  that  unnasary  part  of  the  Sound  ;  but  Considering  this 
as  no  Essential  part  of  our  holy  Religion,  and  yl  I  am  Sensible 
yl  I  cant  do  any  thing  more  than  hath  been  done  to  reform 
what  I  Esteem  Wrong  in  the  manner  of  Singing,  I  Esteem  it  my 
Duty  in  this  public  manner  to  Let  you  know  what  those  things 
are  yl  are  grevious  to  me,  and  yl  I  wholly  disapprove  of  in  your 
Singing.  So  wishing  grace  mercy  and  peace  may  be  multi- 
plied to  you,  I  desire  your  prayer  for  me  yl  I  may  be  led  into 


29 

the  Knowledge  of  my  Duty  in  all  things,  and  be  enabled  to 
Square  my  Life  by  the  rules  of  the  Gospel. 

"Sol  remain  your  Sister  in  the  faith, 

"  Susannah  Haven. 
"  Athol,  Feb.  22,  1775."* 

This  innocent  change  proved  a  bitter  apple  of  discoid  to 
this  hitherto  remarkably  peaceful  church.  Brother  Seth 
Twitchel  absented  himself  from  public  worship  and  the  "  spe- 
cial ordinances."  A  minister  of  the  Baptist  denomination  (El- 
der Whitman  Jacobs)  commenced  preaching  in  town  about 
this  time,  and  was  gathering  a  few  adherents  about  him.  (P.) 
Those  disaffected  on  account  of  the  singing  seem  to  have  at- 
tended somewhat  upon  his  preaching.  Mr.  John  Ballard  de- 
sired to  be  dismissed  to  his  society.  But  the  church  voted  not 
to  dismiss  him,  and  for  several  reasons,  one  of  which  was,  that 
the  Baptists  received  two  of  "  our  members  into  their  church  " 
before  they  were  dismissed,  or  "  took  any  proper  measures  to 
obtain  a  dismission"  from  the  First  Church.  Committees  were 
appointed  to  "  converse  with  our  Brother  Seth  Twitchel," 
&c.  Church  meetings  become  still  more  frequent,  a  circum- 
stance always  ominous  of  evil.  More  stringent  church  regula- 
tions are  adopted.  Members  are  now  (1775),  for  the  first 
time,  f  required  to  make  a  "  Relation  publicly  of  their  faith  and 
experiences  before  they  are  received  into  full  communion." 
The  church  adopt  the  Cambridge  Platform  for  their  "  Rule  of 
Discipline,  excepting  the  seventh  and  two  last  Chapters,"  and 
that  part  of  the  sixth  chapter  which  relates  to  "  Ruling  Elders 
distinct  from  Teaching  Elders  "  ;  also  the  sixth  section  of  the 
twelfth  chapter  they  would  not  adopt.  |  August  14,  1775,  the 
church  voted,  "  That  the  Pastor  should  desire  every  person, 
hereafter,  to  sign  the  Church  Covenant  upon  their  being  taken 
into  the  Church," — the  first  and  only  evidence  we  have  on  the 

-*  Many  protests  which  are  now  made  against  innovations  upon  estab- 
lished religious  forms,  or,  more  particularly,  doctrines,  will,  we  appre- 
hend, a  hundred  years  hence,  be  regarded  as  we  now  regard  this  honest 
declaration  of  good  Madam  Haven. 

•j-  See  note  on  page  26. 

X  Church  Book,  p.  19. 


30 

church  records  that  subscription  to  any  articles  of  faith  was 
ever  made  a  requisite  to  church-membership  ;  and  it  does  not 
appear  from  the  records  that  this  requisition  was  ever  complied 
with.  The  covenant  is  subscribed  only  with  the  names  of  the 
ten  persons  who  founded  the  church.  Evidently,  some  por- 
tion of  the  church  are  growing  more  rigid  with  regard  to  doc- 
trinal opinions.  The  subject  of  the  baptism  of  infants  whose 
parents  were  not  in  full  communion  was  discussed.  (1777.) 
The  church  decided  that  such  baptism  is  "  warranted  by 
Scripture."  Elements  of  discord  appear  more  plainly  upon 
the  church  records  for  this  year.  One  of  the  articles  recorded 
in  a  request  for  a  church-meeting  is  "  to  see  if  the  Church  will 
desire  the  Rev.  Mr.  James  Humphrey  to  ask  a  Dismission 
from  his  Pastoral  Care  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Athol." 
Upon  which,  when  they  came  together,  the  church  voted 
"  that  they  were  satisfied  with  their  Pastor  unanimously  ;  only 
one  person,  Deacon  Haven,  voted  against  ye  pastor,  or,  in 
other  words,  desired  him  to  ask  a  dismission."  At  this  meet- 
ing, "  our  Brother  Seth  Twitchel  promised  to  try  to  conform 
to  the  manner  of  singing  that  the  Church  had  voted  in,  and  at- 
tend upon  public  worship  and  Special  Ordinances." 

But  the  grievous  feeling  seems  to  have  been  too  deeply 
seated  for  him  to  overcome  ;  for,  two  years  after,  reasons  are 
again  offered  why  he  absented  himself  from  public  worship, 
&c.  The  church  voted  to  "  forgive  him,"  "  upon  which"  he 
asked  a  dismission  ;  having,  since  the  change  in  singing,  him- 
self experienced  a  change  in  his  views  relative  to  the  subject 
of  baptism.  The  church,  in  a  truly  liberal  spirit,  granted  his 
request,  "in  manner  and  form  as  follows,"  viz.:  — 

"  That  as  our  Brother  Seth  Twitchel  has,  on  account  of  an 
alteration  in  his  sentiments  respecting  some  points  of  Christian 
practice,  upon  which  men  of  knowledge,  wisdom,  and  piety 
have  differed  in  their  sentiments,  desired  a  dismission  from  his 
particular  relation  to  us,  that  be  may  join  with  a  Christian  So- 
ciety whose  practice,  in  such  points,  is  more  agreeable  to  his 
present  sentiments  ;  and  as  we  are  willing  every  one  should 
enjoy  full  liberty  of  conscience,  [therefore  it  is  voted  that]  he 
be  dismissed  from  this  Church  and  recommended  to  any  regular 


31 

Christian  Society  that  he  may  chuse  to  join  to,  as  one  in  good 
standing  with  us." 

There  can  be  little  doubt,  that  the  above  preamble  and  vote, 
so  truly  liberal  and  Christian  in  its  character,  is  the  composi- 
tion, and  breathes  the  spirit,  of  the  pastor  ;  and  also  that  it  is 
indicative  of  the  kind  of  influence  which  he  exerted  on  the 
minds  of  his  church  and  congregation,  —  an  influence  to 
which,  no  doubt,  this  town  is  much  indebted  for  the  present 
decidedly  liberal  religious  views  cherished  by  a  large  majority 
of  its  inhabitants. 

But  the  difficulty  in  the  church  is  not  healed.  On  Sabbath 
day,  May  27,  1779,  after  the  services  were  closed,  the  fol- 
lowing request,  signed  by  Aaron  Smith,  Samuel  Morton, 
John  Haven,  Jesse  Kendall,  Wm.  Bigelow,  and  Nehemiah 
Ward,  was  read,  viz.:  — 

"  To  the  Rev.  Mr.  James  Humphrey.  Sir,  — Please  to 
call  a  meeting  of  the  Church  to  take  the  following  things  under 

consideration 2ly.   To  see  whether  the  Church  will 

take  any  measures  to  desire  Mr.  Humphrey  to  ask  a  dismission 
from  his  Pastoral  Care  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Athol,  and 
what  measures  they  will  take  for  that  purpose." 

After  which  "  it  was  put  to  vote  to  see  whether  the  Church 
would  have  a  Church  Meeting  appointed,  and  it  passed  in  the 
negative,  only  five  of  the  above  signers  voted  for  a  Church 
Meeting." 

The  church  are  not  yet  ready  to  be  separated  from  the 
pastor  who  has  watched  over  them  in  the  wilderness,  shared 
their  trials  with  the  Indians,  joined  them  in  marriage,  baptized 
their  children,  visited  them  in  sickness,  and  breathed  the  heart- 
felt prayer  at  the  grave  of  their  dearest  friends. 

But  the  disaffected  are  bent  upon  their  purpose.  Another 
year  of  agitation  passes,  and  they  bring  the  subject  before  the 
town,  who  vole  (May  24,  17S0)  to  request  Mr.  Humphrey 
to  ask  a  dismission,  and  appoint  a  committee  to  see  if  the 
church  will  concur.  A  church  meeting  is  called  accordingly, 
on  the  14th  of  June  following,  of  which,  by  invitation  of  the 
church,  Rev.  Mr.  Lee  of  Royalston  —  who  favored  the  dis- 
mission of  Mr.  H. — acted  as  moderator.      "  The  Request 


32 

for  the  meeting,  —  signed  by  Samuel  Morton,  Deacon  Aaron 
Smith,  Deacon  John  Haven,  and  Wra.  Bigelovv, — to  see  if 
the  Church  will  desire  the  Rev.  Mr.  James  Humphrey  to  ask 
a  dismission,  and  to  enquire  into  the  reason  of  uneasiness  with 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey, -was  read."  Upon  which  the  last 
clause  was,  very  properly,  first  considered,  and  the  reasons  for 
the  uneasiness  of  those  who  signed  the  request  for  a  meeting 
were  read  ;  and,  after  some  debate,  the  question  was  put, 
"  Whether  it  is  the  desire  of  the  Brethren  that  Mr.  Humphrey 
ask  a  dismission,  and  it  passed  in  the  negative."  "  N.  B. 
There  were  but  nine  out  of  five  or  six  and  twenty  who  voted 
to  desire  a  dismission."* 

The  fact  expressed  in  this  vote  evinces  the  attachment 
which  existed  for  the  pastor,  and  discovers  a  unanimity  in  the 
church  hardly  to  be  expected  after  three  years  of  disaffecting 
agitation,  kept  up  by  the  most  influential  members,  with  the 
countenance  of  a  neighbouring  minister. 

Three  times  has  the  question  of  dismission  been  brought  be- 
fore the  church,  and  three  times  it  has  promptly  passed  in  the 
negative.  Despairing  of  affecting  their  object  through  this  in- 
strumentality, the  disaffected,  determined  to  pursue  their  pur- 
pose, move  the  town  to  propose  terms  of  resignation  to  Mr. 
Humphrey,  and  appoint  a  committee  to  act  upon  the  church 
and  solicit  its  concurrence.! 

It  is  now  proposed  to  the  church  to  submit  the  difficulties 
"between  pastor  and  church  to  a  mutual  Council."  Another 
church  meeting  is  called  for  this  purpose  (Oct.  18,  1780), 
and  also  "  to  consider  and  act  upon  any  other  proposals  that 
may  be  offered,  either  by  Pastor  or  Church."  At  this  meeting, 
of  which  Rev.  Mr.  Lee  was  moderator,  the  troubled  pastor, 
having  become  "  worried  out,"  —  to  use  the  expression  of  an 
old  gentleman  who  now  lives  and  remembers  the  agitation,  — 
for  the  sake  of  peace,  made  the  following  proposals,  viz. :  — 
That  in  case  the  arrears  of  his  salary  were  paid  up  and  made 
good  to  him,  if  the  church  would  agree  to  it,  he  would  consent 
to  have  a  colleague  settled  with  him,  himself  relinquishing  his 

*  Church  Book,  p.  22.  f  Records  of  Town  Meeting,  July  4,  1780. 


33 

salary,  and  "suspending  the  exercise  of  his  ministry  excepting 
the  administration  of  special  ordinances,  and  preaching  when 
the  pulpit  was  not  otherwise  supplied,  being  allowed  a  reason- 
able compensation  for  preaching." 

On  receiving  this  proposition,  the  church  adjourned  three 
weeks  for  consideration.  Having  met  again  on  the  20th  of 
November,  after  a  deliberate  debate,  the  question  was  put, 
"  Whether  the  Church  approve  and  accept  of  the  proposals 
made  by  the  Rev.  Pastor."  But  the  majority  of  the  church 
appear  still  to  be  too  much  attached  to  their  minister  to  be 
thus  separated,  —  "  and  it  passed  in  the  negative  "/ 

Thus  did  the  church  cling  to  their  pastor  in  every  attempt 
of  the  dissatisfied  to  sunder  their  union.  But  Mr.  Humphrey 
foresaw  that,  so  long  as  he  continued  in  his  pastoral  office, 
there  must  continue  discord  among  the  people  of  his  charge. 
Hence,  actuated,  as  the  reasonable  inference  is,  by  the  earnest 
desire  to  promote  the  Christian  spirit  of  peace,  harmony,  and 
love  among  his  people,  "the  Rev.  Pastor,"  with  noble  disin- 
terestedness and  singleness  of  purpose,  arose,  after  the  above 
decision  was  made,  and  "  renewedly  urged  the  Church's  ac- 
ceptance of  his  proposals."  Renewed  debate  ensued  ;  the 
church  reluctantly  yield  to  the  urgent  request  of  their  be- 
loved pastor  ;  the  former  vote  is  reconsidered  ;  and  upon  the 
question  being  put  a  second  time,  "  Whether  the  Church  do 
approve  and  accept  of  the  proposals  made  by  the  Rev.  Pastor, 
it  passed  in  the  affirmative  "  ;  and  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  lay  the  proposals,  with  the  action  of  the  church,  before  the 
town  for  their  concurrence  ;  after  which  the  meeting  dissolved, 
and  many  sad  hearts  went  home  to  tell  the  unwelcome  news  to 
their  anxious  families. 

On  the  11th  of  December,  17S0,  at  a  meeting  of  the  town, 
the  above  proposals  were  accepted.  After  which  it  was  voted 
that  the  committee  appointed  to  settle  with  the  pastor  "  desire 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey  to  supply  the  pulpit  as  heretofore." 
At  a  subsequent  meeting,  however,  held  on  the  26th  of  Janu- 
ary following,  the  town  voted  to  '•'■disannul  and  make  void  " 
the  vote  by  which  the  proposals  of  Mr.  Humphrey  for  a  dis- 
mission were  accepted. 

5 


34 

Evidently  the  town  are  quite  as  much  excited  and  quite  as 
much  divided  as  the  church  on  the  question  of  dismission.  No 
less  than  nine  town-meetings  were  called  to  consider  and  act 
upon  the  proposals  of  Mr.  Humphrey  before  the  town  could 
agree  to  his  dismission. 

The  motives  which  actuated  the  parish  in  their  opposition 
may  have  been  various.  Many  were  very  strongly  attached  to 
their  minister.  Others  felt  too  poor  to  pay  up  his  arrearages 
and  settle  a  new  man  with  a  larger  salary.  "  Mr.  Humphrey 
was  good  to  wait  on  them,"  says  my  aged  informant.  Some, 
perhaps,  did  not  like  the  idea  of  two  ministers  over  one  parish, 
since,  as  it  appears,  they  had  neglected  to  pay  even  one  his 
just  due.  Possibly  a  few  might  be  anxious  enough  to  dismiss 
him,  but  wished  to  continue  the  connection  a  little  longer,  in 
the  hope  of  closing  the  bargain  in  a  manner  more  favorable  to 
the  pecuniary  interest  of  the  town. 

The  following  entry  on  the  town  records  may  shed  light 
upon  the  subject.  October  1,  1781.  In  town  meeting,  "  Voted 
to  choose  a  committee  of  three  men  to  go  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
James  Humphrey,  and  see  if  he  will  make  some  alterations  in 
his  proposals,"  and  "that  the  committee  propose  to  Mr. 
Humphrey  to  abate  so  much  of  his  salary  as  his  estate  would 
have  paid  towards  the  present  war,  had  it  been  rated  with 
other  estates  ;  and  he  to  quit  his  right  to  the  Desk  as  soon  as 
the  town  give  him  security  upon  what  is  due  upon  said  settle- 
ment."    (Q.) 

At  the  next  meeting  Mr.  Humphrey  was  requested  to  be 
present  and  make  proposals.  After  which  the  town  "  Voted  not 
to  accept  of  Mr.  H.'s  proposals  as  they  now  stand."  By  this 
time  the  excitement  and  disaffection  had  become  somewhat 
alarming,  as  appears  from  the  following  article  in  the  warrant 
for  a  town  meeting,  January  24,  1782,  viz.  :  —  "  To  try  the 
minds  of  the  town  to  see  what  number  of  the  people  are  dis- 
posed to  use  their  endeavours  to  keep  the  town  together  sup- 
posing that  Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey  can  be  settled  with  and  dis- 
missed from  his  pastoral  office  in  this  town  upon  such  condi- 
tions as  they  shall  think  reasonable."  Upon  this  article, 
"  Voted  to  keep  the  town  together." 


35 

At  this  meeting  a  committee  of  the  town,  chosen  for  that 
purpose,  waited  on  Mr.  Humphrey,  and  received  from  him 
proposals  as  follows  :  — 

"  First.  That  if  my  person  and  estate  in  this  town  be  ex- 
empted from  all  taxation,  in  as  full  and  ample  a  manner  as  has 
been  by  law  and  custom  used  in  respect  of  settled  ministers  of 
the  Gospel,  during  my  natural  life,  and  that  I  be  exempted 
from  all  military  duty  in  as  full  a  manner  as  that  provided  by 
law  now  belongs  to  settled  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 

"  Secondly.  And  that  the  Pew  Ground,  that  is,  the  pew  in 
which  my  family  has  always  sat,  be  granted  to  me  and  my 
heirs  and  assigns  for  my,  or  their,  use  for  ever. 

"  Thirdly.  And  that  what  of  my  salary  for  years  past  that 
is  still  due,  be  paid  me  in  good  merchantable  rye  at  four  shil- 
lings per  bushel,  flax  at  eight  pence  per  pound,  &c,  &c,  or 
in  silver  money  equal  thereto  at  the  time  of  payment,  and  that 
the  town  choose  a  committee  of  two  or  three  men  in  their  be- 
half, and  they  give  me  security  with  simple  interest  until  paid  in 
the  following  manner  ;  —  one  year's  salary  in  three  months,  and 
the  remainder  in  twelve  months  ;  —  and  the  Church  join  with 
me  in  calling  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Council,  and  the  town  be  at 
the  cost  and  charge  of  the  entertainment  of  the  Council.  Now 
if  the  town  see  fit  to  comply  with  the  above  proposals,  and 
give  me  sufficient  security  of  the  same,  I  will  ask  a  dismission 
from  my  pastoral  office  as  a  minister  in  this  Church  and  town, 
when  said  Council  is  met  for  that  purpose. 
"  This  from  your  friend, 

"James  Humphrey. 

"  Athol,  January  24,  1782. 

"  N.  B.  What  is  written  is  written." 

These  proposals  were  laid  before  the  town,  and  were 
accepted  ;  and  a  committee  was  appointed  "  to  give  Mr. 
Humphrey  security  for  past  salary."  The  church  concur 
(Jan.  31),  and  consent  that  the  pastor  ask  a  dismission,  on  con- 
dition that  the  town  comply  with  and  "  do  fulfil "  Mr. 
Humphrey's  proposals  ;  and,  on  the  same  conditions,  vote  "  to 
join  with  the  Pastor  in  calling  an  Ecclesiastical  Council,  to  dis- 
solve the  pastoral  relation  between  pastor  and  church." 


36 

Agreeably  to  the  arrangements  thus  mutually  agreed  to  by 
pastor,  town,  and  church,  the  ecclesiastical  council,  composed 
of  representatives  from  the  churches  in  Royalston,  Petersham, 
New  Salem,  and  Warwick,  met  at  Athol,  February  13,  1782  ; 
and,  by  their  direction,  the  Rev.  James  Humphrey  was,  the 
same  day,  dismissed  from  his  pastoral  relation  to  the  church 
and  people  in  this  town.  At  the  same  time,  Rev.  Joseph 
Lee  of  Royalston,  moderator  of  the  council,  was  chosen  to  be 
moderator  of  this  church  so  long  as  it  should  remain  destitute 
of  a  pastor. 

Would  our  limits  permit,  we  might  justly  and  profitably 
pause  here  for  reflection.  The  connection  between  the  pastor 
and  the  church  and  town  over  which,  in  their  infancy  and  trials, 
he  had  watched  with  devoted  fidelity  and  affection,  is  now  dis- 
solved for  ever.  A  stranger  is  to  take  his  welcome  place  in 
the  pulpit,  at  the  baptismal  font,  at  the  marriage  altar,  in  the 
chamber  of  sickness,  and  by  the  bedside  in  the  solemn  hour  of 
death,  —  a  change  of  no  small  moment  to  those  who  had 
grown  up  together  in  the  wilderness,  especially  to  him  who 
had  so  long  and  so  happily  discharged  these  pastoral  duties. 
But  I  must  forbear.  My  duty  is  to  relate  facts,  not  to  indulge 
in  reflections. 

An  indication  of  the  feelings  entertained  by  the  pastor  him- 
self relative  to  his  dismission  may  be  discovered,  perhaps,  in 
the  portion  of  Scripture  which,  according  to  tradition,  he 
selected  as  the  text  for  his  Farewell  Sermon,  viz.:  —  "  The 
word  preached  did  not  profit  them,  not  being  mixed  with  faith 
in  them  that  heard  it." 

Probably  this  town  never  has  experienced  an  excitement 
more  intense,  more  universally  felt,  or  more  threatening  to  the 
interests  of  the  town,  than  that  which  agitated  its  citizens  dur- 
ing the  more  than  five  years'  controversy  relative  to  the  dismis- 
sion of  Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey.  It  came  well  ne'ar  dismember- 
ing the  territory,  so  as  to  leave  but  a  small  part  of  the  original 
grant,  and  that  "  so  weak  and  in  such  form  that  its  inhabitants 
would  be  no  longer  able  to  carry  on  as  a  Town."*     In  the 

*  Remonstrance  against  division  of  town.     Town  Records,  1783. 


37 

warrant  for  the  very  town  meeting  at  which  the  final  arrange- 
ments for  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Humphrey  were  agreed  to, 
there  was  an  article  to  see  if  the  town  would  vote  off  all  the 
land,  and  inhabitants  thereon,  lying  north  and  west  of  Miller's 
River,  with  the  exception  of  "  Deacon  Kendall's  land,"  a 
part  "  to  be  incorporated  into  a  separate  district  or  join  with 
any  other  town  as  they  think  fit  after  being  set  off"  ;  the  other 
part,  namely,  that  west  of  Tully  Brook,  with  the  above  excep- 
tion, "  to  be  erected  into  a  town  with  part  of  Warwick,  part 
of  Royalston,  part  of  Eruensha  "  ;  and  although  a  majority  of 
the  meeting  voted  against  the  design  of  this  article,  still,  so 
strong  was  the  feeling  in  its  favor,  that  a  petition  was  soon 
after  sent  to  the  General  Court,  praying  that  the  territory  above 
described,  or  some  portion  of  it,  might  be  set  off  and  incor- 
porated into  a  separate  town  ;  and  notwithstanding  that  this 
town  remonstrated  with  the  court  against  the  act,  nevertheless 
the  town  of  Orange,  a  part  of  which  wras  set  off  from  Athol, 
was  incorporated  the  next  year. 

There  can  be  little  doubt,  judging  from  the  letter  and  spirit 
of  the  records,  that  this  division  of  the  territory  of  the  town 
was  effected  in  consequence  of  the  controversy  relative  to  the 
dismission  of  Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey. 

For  more  than  five  years  after  the  connection  between  the 
first  pastor  and  his  people  was  dissolved,  the  town  continued 
in  an  unsettled  condition.  The  old  feeling,  which  for  five 
years  previous  to  that  event  had  agitated  the  people,  was  not 
easily  allayed.  The  excitement  of  the  Revolutionary  war, 
and  the  heavy  burdens  growing  out  of  it,  must  be  taken  into 
consideration  in  connection  with  local  affairs,  in  order  properly 
to  understand  the  agitated  and  almost  distracted  state  of  the 
town  during  that  period. 

The  parish  were  poor.  So  was  their  former  minister.  They 
had  agreed  to  pay  him  the  arrears  of  his  salary,  but  neglected 
to  do  so.  Consequently,  a  suit  at  law  was  commenced  (June, 
1789)  by  Mr.  Humphrey  against  the  town  for  the  recovery  of 
what  they  owed  him,  the  result  of  which  was,  that  the  town 
chose  a  committee  to  settle  with  Mr.  Humphrey,  and  instructed 
the  selectmen  to  "  give  an  obligation  "  for  what  the  town  owed 


38 

him.      The  action  was  dismissed  from  the  court,  neither  party 
appearing.* 

Thus,  at  length,  all  controversy  between  the  town, and  Mr. 
Humphrey  was  finally  settled  ;  but  the  feeling  existing  still  was 
such  as  to  induce  the  former  pastor  to  withdraw  his  remaining 
connection  with  the  church  in  Athol,  and  connect  himself  with 
the  church  in  Warwick. f  He  continued,  however,  to  reside 
in  this  town,  —  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  his  grandson, 
James  Humphrey,  —  from  the  time  of  his  dismission  to  that 
of  his  death,  which  event  occurred  May  8th,  1796,  in  the  thirty- 
second  year  of  his  ordination,  and  in  the  seventy-fifth  year  of 
his  age. 

Quite  a  number  of  old  people  now  living  in  town  remember 
well  the  venerable  pastor  of  their  early  years,  and  speak  of  him 
in  terms  of  respect  and  affection.  None  of  them  think  he  was 
a  "  great  preacher,"  but  all  with  whom  I  have  conversed  speak 
of  him  as  a  "  good  man,"  the  noblest  reputation  any  preacher 
can  leave  behind  him.  Not  a  breath  was  ever  breathed  against 
Mr.  Humphrey's  moral  character.  The  only  complaint  re- 
membered is,  "  He  was  not  smart  enough ,"  —  a  charge  which 
many  a  faithful  minister  has  had  to  endure. 

During  the  Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey's  ministry  there  were  add- 
ed to  the  church,  in  all,  121  members  ;  of  which  36  were 
received  by  letter.  Five  hundred  and  ninety-three  children 
were  christened  by  him  and  other  ministers  who  officiated  in 
his  desk.  He  made  record  of  194  deaths  in  town  during  his 
ministry,  and  of  113  marriages.  The  first  child  baptized  by 
Mr.  Humphrey  was  Jemima  Oliver,  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Oliver  (April  14,  1751).  The  first  persons  ever  married 
by  him  were  James  Stratton,  Jr.  and  Abigail  Morton  (Dec. 
26,  1751). 

As  has  been  before  remarked,  Mr.  Humphrey,  probably, 
was  not  a  theologian.  He  had  not  the  means,  situated  as  he 
was  for  many  years  in  the  woods,  of  devoting  himself  much  to 
theological  study.  His  intercourse  with  learned  divines,  and 
even  with  books  of  theology,  must  have  been  very  limited  ;  and 
probably  his  ideas  of  his  ministerial  duty  were  too  elevated  to 

*  Court  and  Town  Records.  f  Church  Records. 


39 

allow  him  to  give  his  attention  much  to  the  discussion  of  mere 
sectarian  dogmas.  Hence  no  distinct  traces  of  his  peculiar 
doctrinal  tenets  now  remain. 

Most  likely  he  was  a  Trinitarian,  after  the  fashion  of  his 
times,  receiving  the  doctrine  as  he  heard  it,  without  any  par- 
ticular comment  or  thought  upon  it.  We  cannot  suppose  that 
in  his  circumstances  he  arrived  at  a  more  correct  appreciation 
of  Christian  theology  than  his  contemporaries,  most  of  whom 
were  believers  in  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity.  He  may  have 
been  somewhat  Calvinistic  in  his  religious  views  ;  but  of  this 
we  have  no  better  evidence  by  which  to  judge  than  the  testi- 
mony afforded  by  the  church  records,  and  the  liberal  religious 
spirit  which  has  always  been  cherished  by  a  majority  of  the  in- 
habitants of  this  town.  Inviting  the  critic  to  these  sources  of 
information,  we  leave  him  to  draw  his  own  conclusions. 

As  a  pastor  he  is  remembered  with  affection  by  those  who 
were  not  old  enough  to  judge  of  his  theology,  but  who  could 
appreciate  a  spirit  of  kindness.  It  was  his  custom  to  collect 
the  children  of  his  parish  twice  in  each  year,  for  the  special 
purpose  of  catechizing  them  in  the  old  Westminster  Catechism, 
after  the  manner  of  all  contemporary  New  England  pastors. 
We  are  not  aware  that  he  ever  published  any  kind  of  a  dis- 
course, or  any  other  composition  ;  and  we  have  sought  in  vain 
for  a  single  manuscript  sermon  from  his  pen. 

His  remains,  with  those  of  his  respected  wife,  rest  in  the 
family  tomb,  in  what  is  now  familiarly  called  the  Old  Burying 
Ground,  in  distinction  from  the  new  cemetery  near  to  it.  It  is 
to  be  regretted  that  there  is  no  inscription  to  attract  the  present 
and  the  future  antiquarian  to  the  spot  where  is  enshrined  the 
mouldering  dust  of  the  first  minister  of  Pequoiag. 

Rev.  Joseph  Lee  of  Royalston  continued  to  officiate  as 
moderator  of  this  church  from  the  close  of  Mr.  Humphrey's 
ministry  to  the  ordination  of  his  successor,  a  period  of  nearly 
six  years. 

The  work  of  settling  a  new  minister  appears  to  have  been 
attended  with  about  as  much  difficulty  as  that  of  dismissing  the 
former  one.      The  town  appoint  and  reject  and  reappoint  com- 


40 

mittees  to  act  with  the  church  committee  "  for  procuring  preach- 
ing." They  instruct  them  now  to  act  discretionary,  next  to 
endeavour  to  secure  the  services  of  a  particular  candidate,  and 
then  not  to  hire  such  and  such  persons  to  preach.  At  length 
the  church  vote  to  give  Mr.  John  Bruce  a  call  "  to  settle  with 
them  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry  "  (Feb.  1784).  In 
the  course  of  the  same  month  the  town  concur  ;  but  why  Mr. 
Bruce  was  not  settled  here,  I  have  no  means  of  determining. 
Probably  he  did  not  receive  a  very  unanimous  vote  in  his  favor, 
since  at  the  same  town  meeting  "  it  was  put  to  vote  to  set  off 
the  north  part  of  the  town  of  Athol  to  Royalston,  and  it  passed 
in  the  negative."  Evidently  the  harmony  of  the  town  is  not 
yet  complete. 

Another  preacher  must  now  be  looked  up,  —  no  easy  task, 
perhaps,  —  such  a  one  as  will  unite  a  divided  parish.  Joshua 
Morton  is  sent  on  two  "journeys  after  a  minister,"  for  which 
he  is  allowed,  for  the  one,  two  pounds  nine  shillings  and  nine- 
pence,  and  for  the  second,  one  pound  two  shillings  and  six- 
pence. July,  1785,  the  town  direct  their  committee  "to  use 
their  endeavours  to  hire  Mr.  Akens."  October  21st  of  the 
same  year,  the  church  come  together  and  vote  "  to  proceed 
now  to  the  choice  of  a  pastor."  But  the  vote  passed  by  so 
small  a  majority  that  it  was  thought  best  to  reconsider,  and  to 
invite  the  gentleman  "  who  has  of  late  been  preaching  to  them 
to  preach  longer."  He  does  not  suit.  It  requires  a  man  of 
peculiar  abilities  to  unite  the  parish  that  has  been  distracted  by 
conflicting  opinions  for  ten  years.  There  is  but  one  man,  as 
it  would  almost  seem,  who  is  adequate  to  so  noble  and  arduous 
an  undertaking  in  this  place.  Fortunately  that  man  is  now  the 
candidate.  The  church  appreciate  his  worth,  and  vote  "  unan- 
imously to  invite  Mr.  Joseph  Kstabrook  to  take  the  pastoral 
care  of  them  in  the  Lord,  and  to  settle  in  this  town  in  the  work 
of  the  Gospel  Ministry"  (July  25,  1787).  On  the  8th  of 
the  following  month  the  town  concur  with  the  church  in  extend- 
ing the  invitation  to  Mr.  Estabrook,  —  an  action  which  proved 
most  salutary  for  the  interests  of  the  parish.  Under  its  in- 
fluence the  discordant  elements  are  happily  lulled  to  peace. 

In  those  days  it  was  customary  to  pay  ministers  a  certain 


41 

sum,  independent  of  their  annual  salary,  as  an  "encourage- 
ment" or  inducement  to  settle  over  a  particular  parish,  — a 
practice  which  had  no  small  influence  in  giving  permanency  to 
such  settlement.  The  terms  of  Mr.  Estabrook's  settlement 
were  these,  viz.  :  —  The  town  voted  to  give  him  two  hundred 
pounds  for  his  "  encouragement  "  to  settle  with  them,  and  also 
the  use  of  a  pew  in  the  meeting-house  so  long  as  he  should  re- 
main the  minister  of  the  town.  For  his  "  support"  or  salary 
they  obligated  themselves  to  give  him  "seventy-five  pounds  " 
in  cash,  and  twenty  cords  of  good  fire-wood,  annually. 

In  answer  to  these  proposals,  Mr.  Estabrook  returned  the 
following  rather  characteristic  letter. 

"  To  the  Church  and  Congregation  of  Athol. 

"  Honored  Fathers  and  much  esteemed  Friends,  —  I  have 
for  some  time  past  had  under  consideration  the  invitation  you 
was  pleased  to  give  me  to  settle  with  you  in  the  work  of 
the  Gospel  ministry,  and  that  being  an  affair  of  the  greatest 
importance,  I  have  taken  it  into  serious  and  deliberate  con- 
sideration, and  have  been  seeking  direction  and  assistance  of 
God,  the  Father  of  Lights  and  the  Fountain  of  Wisdom  ;  and 
as  God  often  makes  use  of  instruments  to  communicate  his 
will,  and  in  his  word  has  told  us,  that  in  the  multitude  of  coun- 
sellors there  is  safety,  I  have  taken  the  advice  of  my  Rev. 
Fathers  in  the  ministry  (and  particularly  of  those  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood), and  of  my  relatives,  and  many  other  gentlemen  of 
my  acquaintance,  —  and  considering  the  unanimity  of  your  re- 
quest, that  I  should  tarry  with  you  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel 
ministry,  and  the  industry  which  I  have  observed  among  the 
inhabitants  of  the  town,  I  am  now  determined,  and  do  accept 
of  your  friendly  invitation  ;  and,  under  a  conviction  of  my  weak- 
ness and  insufficiency  for  this  great  work,  do  entreat  your  ear- 
nest prayers  to  Almighty  God  for  me,  that  I  may  have  grace 
and  wisdom  given  me  faithfully  to  discharge  the  duties  of  this 
arduous  and  important  station  ;  and  by  deriving  grace  and  wis- 
dom from  Him  in  whom  are  hid  all  the  treasures  of  wisdom 
and  knowledge,  I  may  give  to  every  one  his  portion  in  due 
season  ;  and  by  the  Divine  blessing  attending  my  labors,  I  may 
6 


42 

be  made  instrumental  of  bringing  many  sons  and  daughters  into 
the  fold  of  Christ,  the  great  Shepherd  and  Bishop  of  souls. 
Confiding  in  your  sincerity  and  affection  for  me,  I  am  willing  to 
spend  and  be  spent  in  the  service  of  your  souls  and  the  cause 
of  my  Redeemer.  And  though  you  may  find  many  imperfec- 
tions in  me,  and  in  my  services,  yet  I  hope  you  will  never  have 
just  reason  to  say  or  think  but  what  your  best  and  greatest  in- 
terest lies  nearest  to  my  heart. 

"  I  conclude  by  wishing  that  you  may  be  directed  by  wisdom 
from  above  in  all  your  future  proceedings,  and  that  the  spirit  of 
love  and  peace  may  be  with  you,  and  that  we  may  all  be  mu- 
tual blessings  to  each  other,  and  fellow-heirs  to  the  heavenly  in- 
heritance. 

"  From  your  sincere  friend  and  humble  servant, 

"Joseph  Estabrook. 

"P.  S.  —  I  shall  expect  to  be  indulged  with  three  or  four 
Sabbaths  yearly  to  visit  my  friends." 

The  town  appoint  Wednesday,  the  21st  of  November,  for  the 
ordination  of  Mr.  Estabrook,  and  choose  a  committee  to  pro- 
vide for  the  ordination  at  the  expense  of  the  town,  "  in  the 
best  and  cheapest  way  they  can."  The  church  voted  "  to 
send  to  seven  churches  to  assist "  in  the  ordination. 

Accordingly,  in  response  to  letters  missive  issued  in  behalf 
of  the  church  by  Deacon  John  Haven,  Mr.  John  Oliver,  and 
Mr.  John  Foster,  the  following-named  pastors,  with  delegates 
from  their  respective  churches,  met  at  the  house  of  Rev.  James 
Humphrey,  in  Athol,  on  the  evening  of  November  20,  1787  ; 
viz.  Rev.  Jonas  Clarke,  Lexington  ;  Rev.  Ebenezer  Spar- 
hawk,  Templeton  ;  Rev.  Joseph  Brown,  Winchendon  ;  Rev. 
Joseph  Lee,  Royalston  ;  Rev.  SolomOn  Reed,  Petersham  ; 
Rev.  Samuel  Reed,  Warwick  ;  Rev.  Samuel  Kendall,  Wes- 
ton. The  council  was  organized  by  choosing  Rev.  Mr.  Clarke, 
Moderator,  and  Rev.  Joseph  Lee,  Scribe  ;  after  which  it  was 
voted  unanimously  that  the  council  are  so  far  satisfied  with  the 
proceedings  of  the  parties,  and  with  the  "  moral  character, 
ministerial  qualifications,  and  religious  sentiments  of  the  candi- 
date, as  to  proceed  to  his  ordination,  agreeable  to  the  request 
of  the  Church." 


43 

Agreeably  to  this  vote,  the  next  day  the  council  proceeded 
to  the  meeting-house  on  the  common,  and  "publicly  ordained 
the  said  Mr.  Estabrook  a  Christian  Bishop,  and  committed  to 
his  oversight  the  particular  church  and  congregation  of  the  Lord 
in  Athol"  (November  21,  17S7). 

Rev.  Samuel  Kendall  made  the  introductory  prayer,  Rev. 
Joseph  Brown  offered  the  ordaining  prayer,  Rev.  Jonas  Clarke 
preached  the  sermon,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Sparhawk  gave  the 
charge,  Rev.  Joseph  Lee  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  and 
Rev.  Solomon  Reed  offered  the  concluding  prayer. 

The  sermon  by  Mr.  Clarke,  the  charge,  and  the  right  hand 
of  fellowship,  were  published  at  the  time,  and  many  copies  of 
them  are  still  extant. 

Rev.  Mr.  Estabrook  entered  upon  his  pastoral  duties  in  this 
town  under  adverse  circumstances.  The  parish  and  church 
had  both  been  for  many  years  in  a  state  of  exciting  discord. 
The  former  pastor  had  been  compelled  to  yield  to  the  dis- 
affected, and  retire  from  his  pastoral  office.  For  many  years 
the  flock  had  been  without  a  shepherd  to  guard  them.  But  the 
young  and  devoted  pastor  is  equal  to  the  arduous  duties  before 
him.  He  gives  himself  up  at  once  to  the  spiritual  interests  of 
his  people  ;  and,  by  that  ready,  quick  perception  of  human 
character,  and  that  admirable  tact  as  a  "  peace-maker,"  for 
which  through  his  long  and  happy  ministry  he  was  ever  re- 
markable, he  soon  succeeded  in  bringing  harmony  out  of  dis- 
cord, and  in  winning  the  confidence,  love,  and  respect  of  his 
entire  parish. 

In  less  than  a  year  after  his  settlement,  Mr.  Estabrook  was 
married  (September  3,  1788)  to  Miss  Lucy  Cushing,  daughter 
of  Mr.  Nathaniel  Cushing,  of  Pembroke,  and  on  the  12th  of 
the  same  month  he  arrived  with  his  wife  at  Athol,  where  her 
kindness  and  attention  soon  won  the  attachment  of  his  parish- 
ioners, many  of  whom  still  live  to  hold  her  in  cherished  re- 
membrance. 

Rev.  Joseph  Estabrook  was  born  at  Lexington,  March  4, 
1759.  His  early  education  appears  to  have  been  directed  by 
respectable  and  judicious  parents.      Though  but  a  boy,  on  the 


44 

memorable  morning  of  the  Lexington  fight,  April  19,  1775, 
upon  receiving  the  alarm  of  the  approach  of  the  British  regu- 
lars, after  having  assisted  his  father  before  light  in  carrying  his 
mother,  with  a  young  infant,  in  an  arm-chair  about  a  mile  back 
from  the  scene  of  danger,  seizing  his  musket,  he  joined  those 
citizens  who  braved  the  English  troops  at  Lexington  on  that 
eventful  morning.  The  bloody  bodies  of  several  who  fell  on 
that  occasion  in  defence  of  provincial  rights  were  carried  life- 
less to  his  father's  house  by  the  assistance  of  the  boy  who  after- 
wards was  for  so  many  years  the  devoted  pastor  of  this  people. 
He  was  graduated  at  Harvard  University,  July,  1782,  and 
afterwards  pursued  his  studies  preparatory  to  his  profession 
with  Rev.  Jonas  Clarke,  the  minister  of  his  native  town. 

For  nearly  forty-three  years,  Rev.  Mr.  Estabrook  continued, 
in  the  midst  of  a  united  parish,  the  faithful  minister  of  a  happy 
people,  and  finally  closed  his  life,  much  lamented,  on  the 
morning  of  Sunday,  April  18,  1830. 

Of  the  parish  during  his  ministry  there  is  little  for  history  to 
relate.  Through  the  admirable  management  of  its  most  prudent 
and  judicious  pastor,  it  was  saved  from  those  unhappy  and  un- 
profitable religious  agitations  which,  at  that  age,  distracted  the 
New  England  churches,  impeded  the  progress  of  Christianity, 
introduced  bitterness  of  feeling  between  neighbours  and  friends, 
and  ruptured  the  most  sacred  ties  of  many  a  family  circle.  Al- 
though he  perceived  the  elements  of  such  excitement  and  divis- 
ion in  his  parish,  and  foretold  with  prophetic  accuracy  how  soon 
those  elements  would  be  kindled  into  a  living  flame  after  his 
decease,  nevertheless,  the  pastor's  personal  influence,  and  that 
alone,  kept  them  in  subjection  till  he  was  called  to  yield  up  his 
pastoral  charge,  and  pass  to  the  spirit  world. 

Though  little  can  be  said  historically  of  the  parish  during 
Mr.  Estabrook's  successful  ministry,  other  than  that  it  was  al- 
ways peaceful  and  happy,  —  and  nothing  more  worthy  can  be 
said  of  any  parish, — yet  much  may  be  said  of  the  pastor  him- 
self ;  and  it  is  a  debt  which  history  owes  to  the  second  pastor 
of  this  church,  faithfully  to  chronicle,  at  least,  a  brief  sketch  of 
his  ministerial  life,  character,  religious  opinions,  and  influence 
among  his  people. 


45 

The  materials  out  of  which  to  form  this  sketch  are  abundant, 
and  I  have  spared  no  pains  to  freely  avail  myself  of  the  same. 
Not  only  have  I  sought  information  from  very  many  of  his  pa- 
rishioners who  still  remember  him  with  affection,  and  from  his 
own  family,  but  also  from  his  venerable  surviving  contempora- 
ries in  the  ministry,  a  number  of  whom  we  are  most  happy  to 
welcome  here  to-day.  To  no  less  than  five  of  these  reverend 
fathers*  am  I  indebted  for  a  separate  account  of  Mr.  Esta- 
brook,  each  written  without  the  knowledge  of  what  was  ex- 
pressed by  the  others,  and  yet  each  harmonizing  with  the  oth- 
ers, and  also  with  the  general  impressions  gained  by  three  years' 
familiar  intercourse  with  his  living  parishioners,  and  with  the 
particular  statements  of  responsible  members  of  his  surviving 
family.  Time  and  space  compel  me  reluctantly  to  condense 
and  blend  together  the  information  derived  from  these  most  au- 
thentic sources,  and  record  it  in  other  language  than  I  could 
wish. 

Mr.  Estabrook  was  a  man  of  large  perceptive  powers.  He 
possessed  a  rare  knowledge  of  human  nature,  and  seemed  at  a 
glance  to  form  an  accurate  estimate  of  individual  character,  — 
an  ability  which  enabled  him  to  adapt  himself  to  all  classes  of 
men  and  opinions,  so  as,  without  compromising  his  own  dig- 
nity or  sentiments,  almost  invariably  to  win  confidence  and  re- 
spect from  those  with  whom  he  had  intercourse,  whether 
parishioners,  social  friends,  or  his  associates  in  the  ministry, 
among  whom  conflicting  opinions  were  somewhat  rife  in  his 
day.  In  his  manner  he  was  affable,  courteous,  and  conde- 
scending to  all.  Hence,  "  he  was  every  one's  friend,"  f  and 
consequently  shared  largely  in  the  affections  of  all  who  felt  his 
friendly  influence.  This  trait  in  his  character  was  marked,  and 
enabled  him  to  exercise  an  extensive  and  most  salutary  influ- 
ence in  his  parish.  In  consequence  of  the  confidence  it  won, 
"  he  was  often  let  into  many  a  family  trial  and  difficulty  which 
were  studiously  kept  from  the  world.  Thus  he  was  able,  by 
soothing  words  and  mild  advice,  to  plant  the  olive-branch  at 

*  Rev.   C.   Wellington,  Rev.   A.  Harding,  Rev.  L.  Wilson,  Rev.  P. 
Smith,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Thompson, 
t  Rev.  P.  Smith. 


46 

the  domestic  fireside,  which  before  was  the  scene  of  discord 
and  strife."  *  He  seemed  to  have  the  happy  faculty  of  always 
saying  in  a  few  words  just  those  things  which  would  fall  upon 
agitated  feeling  like  oil  upon  troubled  water.  Amusing  inci- 
dents are  related  both  by  his  parishioners  and  his  contempora- 
ries in  the  ministry,  indicative  of  his  manner  of  quieting  the  little 
disturbances  that  sometimes  arose  in  his  parish,  and  also  among 
the  members  of  his  church.  We  venture  to  give  a  single 
instance  of  this  kind,  which  we  take  to  be  a  very  apt  illus- 
tration of  his  common  practice  in  healing  the  germs  of  bit- 
terness that  occasionally  were  taking  root  in  the  bosom  of  the 
church. 

In  those  old-fashioned  times,  when  to  take  with  a  friend 
something  even  stronger  than  tea  or  coffee  was  not  considered 
out  of  character  even  for  the  minister,  it  was  whispered  round 
the  parish,  that  one  of  the  most  respectable  members  of  the 
church  had  indulged  a  little  more  freely  than  was  becoming  the 
important  position  he  sustained.  The  whisper  gradually  be- 
came louder,  till  it  was  deemed  expedient,  on  account  of  the 
reputation  of  the  church,  to  bring  the  affair  to  the  notice  of  the 
pastor  ;  which  was  accordingly  done,  in  the  presence  of  the  of- 
fending party  and  some  of  his  complaining  brethren.  The 
pastor,  not  being  able,  probably,  to  decide  who  of  the  accusers 
had  the  right,  according  to  the  Christian  rule,  to  cast  the  first 
stone,  with  characteristic  shrewdness  commenced  the  conversa- 
tion with  his  wonted  cheerfulness,  and  continued  it  till  it  gradu- 
ally ran  into  a  lively  flow  of  wit,  which  soon  put  the  whole 
company  in  a  very  good-natured  sort  of  humor  ;  when,  with 
consummate  tact,  taking  advantage  of  the  kindly  feeling  he  had 
awakened,  he  incidentally  alluded  to  the  charge  brought  against 
the  worthy  brother,  and  rather  jocosely  inquired  if  the  fact  was 
as  had  been  reported.  To  which  the  brother  replied,  that,  be- 
ing in  company  with  a  number  of  friends,  he  did  drink  a  little, 
and  afterwards  smoked  a  good  deal,  which  affected  him  unpleas- 
antly and  made  him  rather  dizzy.  The  explanation  was  in  per- 
fect unison  with  the  humorous  condition  of  the  party,  which  the 
pastor's  keen  eye    perceiving,  turning    to  the    other   brethren 

*  Rev.  P.  Smith. 


47 

present,  Mr.  Estabrook  good-naturedly  replied,  half  humor- 
ously and  half  seriously,  and  yet  in  a  meaning  tone,  —  "I  guess, 
brethren,  we  '11  call  it  all  smoking  and  let  it  go  ;  attribute  it  all 
to  the  smoking,  and  say  no  more  about  it  ";  and  then,  turning  to 
the  other  party,  he  added,  with  a  no  less  significant  expression, 
"  Be  very  careful,  brother,  and  not  smoke  so  much  again." 

All  understood  the  decision  of  the  pastor  thus  wittily  given, 
and  were  put  in  too  humorous  a  mood  by  it  to  care  to  dissent, 
especially  as  he,  with  adroit  skill,  immediately  turned  the  sub- 
ject of  thought,  and  entertained  them  with  anecdotes  and  pleas- 
antry, till  each  went  away,  resolved  to  "call  it  all  smoking  and 
let  it  go  "  ;  nor  am  I  aware  that  the  penitent  brother  ever  gave 
occasion  for  the  repetition  of  the  pastor's  very  timely  caution. 
This  witty  expression  of  the  pastor  has  passed  into  a  proverb 
in  this  town  and  vicinity. 

Mr.  Estabrook's  mind  was  most  happily  blended,  ever  fur- 
nishing an  abundant  supply  of  wisdom,  wit,  and  kindness.  He 
could  chat  freely  with  the  most  illiterate  of  his  parish,  much  to 
their  edification,  and  would  impart  much  grave  and  serious  in- 
struction in  the  course  of  a  half-hour's  pleasant  conversation  ;  a 
very  rare,  but  very  desirable,  talent  for  a  minister  to  possess. 
"  Though  not  a  great  student,  nor  carefully  read  in  his  pro- 
fession, yet  he  was  a  very  acceptable  preacher."*  His  ser- 
mons were  characterized  by  an  earnest  Christian  spirit,  mingled 
with  a  large  share  of  common  sense,  and  were  always  listened 
to  with  attention  and  interest.  His  discourses  were  practical, 
rather  than  doctrinal.  He  carefully  avoided  in  his  public  and 
private  teaching  those  disputed  points  in  theology  which  were 
the  occasion  of  much  unprofitable  religious  controversy  in  this 
country  about  a  century  ago,  and  which  again  induced  discord 
and  separation  in  very  many  New  England  churches  during  his 
own  ministry.  In  these  controversies  he  never  would  engage, 
not  even  in  private  conversation  with  his  parishioners,  if  he 
could  well  avoid  it.  He  was  emphatically  a  "peace-maker," 
and  carefully  avoided  introducing  or  encouraging  any  conversa- 
tion upon  discordant  topics  in  theology.  Prudence  was  the 
one  virtue  above  all  others  by  which  he  endeavoured  to  govern 

*  Rev.  P.  Smith. 


48 

his  ministerial  conduct ;  and  he  had  abundant  opportunity  to 
exemplify  his  favorite  virtue  in  his  intercourse  with  his  parish- 
ioners and  ministerial  associates  at  that  time,  when  discordant 
and  unchristian  spirits  were  laboring  to  sunder  the  bonds  of  re- 
ligious union  and  church-fellowship.  Some  have  thought  and 
said  that  he  carried  his  love  of  prudence  to  an  excess  ;  but 
others  have  thought  him  a  model  for  imitation  in  this  respect. 
Prudence  ceases  to  be  a  virtue,  whenever,  through  fear  of  per- 
sonal disadvantage,  or  other  causes,  it  induces  to  the  compro- 
mise of  duty  or  the  surrender  of  true  principles. 

Mr.  Estabrook  would  not  himself  preach  upon  doctrines 
which  were  then  warmly  contested,  nor  did  he  wish  others  to 
do  so  in  his  pulpit,  although  they  might  advocate  no  other 
views  than  those  which  accorded  with  his  own.  By  such  man- 
agement he  actually  kept  the  mass  of  his  people  ignorant  of  the 
numerous  strifes  and  contentions  which  were  distracting  so 
many  of  the  parishes  in  this  Commonwealth. 

In  his  theological  views  he  sympathized  more  with  the  lib- 
eral portion  of  the  clergy,  with  Channing,  Buckminster,  Ban- 
croft, &c.  ;  yet  it  was  his  desire  to  cultivate  friendly  ministe- 
rial intercourse  with  all  his  brethren,  without  regard  to  their 
peculiar  doctrinal  tenets  or  denominational  names.  He  dis- 
liked sectarian  names  and  distinctions.  He  never  would  con- 
descend to  discuss  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity.  He  never  wrote 
but  one  sermon  on  this  subject  in  his  life.  This  he  preached 
immediately  after  his  ordination,  and  repeated  it  word  for  word 
during  the  excitement  relative  to  this  doctrine  which  prevailed 
in  the  latter  part  of  his  ministry.  He  looked  with  no  favor 
upon  this  excitement.  He  regretted  it,  and  thought  its  ten- 
dency was  to  break  up  religious  societies,  and  do  much  evil  to 
the  Christian  cause.  He  used  all  the  influence  in  his  power  to 
dissuade  those  of  his  brother  ministers,  who  would  make  belief 
in  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  a  requisite  for  church-fellowship, 
from  agitating  the  question,  and  from  their  attempts  to  effect  a 
division  in  the  New  England  churches.  He  loved  peace,  and 
was  desirous  to  breathe  a  purer  and  more  Christian  atmosphere 
than  he  thought  they  were  generating.  He  used  repeatedly  to 
say,   "  I  am  neither  a  Trinitarian  nor  a  Unitarian,  but  I  am  a 


49 

Bibletar'ian  "  ;  and  there  can  be  no  do  that  he  was  liberal, 
catholic,  and  devoted  in  his  religious  sentiments. 

Perhaps  a  correct  idea  of  what  Mr.  Estabrook  deemed  es- 
sential to  recommend  one  to  Christian  sympathy  or  church-fel- 
lowship may  be  derived  from  the  title  of  the  discourse  which 
he  preached  at  the  funeral  of  Rev.  Mr.  Lee,  of  Royalston, 
and  which  was  published  at  the  time,  —  namely,  "  A  Good 
Life  the  Best  Evidence  of  a  Pious  Heart.'''' 

He  was  distinctly  opposed  to  the  old  doctrine  of  Total  De- 
pravity, and  to  the  rigid  Calvinistic  doctrine  of  the  Atonement. 
He  much  admired  the  Christian  spirit  of  Baxter,  and  preferred, 
if  he  must  be  called  by  any  other  name  than  Christian,  to  be 
called  a  "  Baxterian,"  after  the  favorite  author  whose  works  he 
held  in  his  hands  when  he  sat  for  his  portrait.  "  Calvin  was 
no  favorite  of  his.  His  sermons  never  savored  of  the  '  Five 
Points.'"*  Indeed,  he  could  endure  nothing  rigid  or  ex- 
clusive. His  heart  was  too  liberal  and  warm  for  that.  He 
wished  to  keep  free  of  human  creeds  ;  and  he  advised  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry  to  do  the  same.  In  his  charge  to  the 
Rev.  Luther  Wilson,  of  Petersham,  on  the  occasion  of  his  in- 
stallation, ten  years  before  his  death,  Mr.  E.  used  the  following 
characteristic  language  : — "Let  your  preaching  be  plain  and 
practical.  Meddle  not  with  dark  and  mysterious  questions, 
which  neither  you  nor  your  people  can  understand.  Be  not 
wise  above  what  is  written.  Take  the  word  of  God  for  your 
guide,  and  not  the  commandments  of  men.  Human  creeds  are 
not  to  be  preferred  to  the  Holy  Scriptures.  They  have  been 
the  cause  of  much  difficulty  in  the  world." 

Mr.  Estabrook  could  never  endure  the  spirit  of  proscription 
which,  in  his  day,  was  nurtured  in  the  hearts  of  so  many  minis- 
ters, much  to  the  detriment,  as  it  seemed  to  him,  of  their  Mas- 
ter's spirit.  "  His  sympathies,"  writes  one  of  his  contempora- 
ries, Rev.  Mr.  Harding,  "  were  always  with  the  proscribed. 
When  Rev.  Mr.  Baily,  then  of  Pelham,  —  one  of  the  excel- 
lent of  the  earth,  —  was  persecuted  for  heresy,  having  re- 
nounced the  Trinity,  and  was  expelled  from  the  Hampshire 

*  Rev.  Mr.  Smith. 


50 

Association,  Father  Estabrook  sought  an  exchange  with  him, 
and,  in  his  old  age,  rode  on  horseback  more  than  twenty  miles 
to  express  his  disapprobation  of  intolerance,  and  his  sympathy 
for  the  proscribed.  On  his  return  from  the  exchange,  he  called 
and  spent  the  night  with  me,  told  me  where  he  had  been,  and 
why,  saying  he  would  go  as  far  again  to  exchange  with  any 
man  who  was  proscribed  for  an  expression  of  his  honest  opin- 
ions, ichatcver  those  opinions  were,  and  however  they  might 
differ  from  his  own,  as  he  would  to  exchange  with  the  pro- 
scribe^ though  his  doctrinal  views  might  correspond  with  his 
own."  "  This,"  adds  my  informant,  who  knew  him  well,  "  is 
illustrative  of  his  character."  It  is  indicative  also  of  the  desire 
for  universal  Christian  fellowship  which  he  cultivated  among 
his  people,  and  which  was  so  emphatically  manifested  in' the 
action  of  the  majority  relative  to  the  settlement  of  his  successor, 
and  which,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  is  now  cherished  by  a  large 
majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town. 

Mr.  E.  "seemed  always  to  dread,  and  would  avoid,  if  possi- 
ble, being  placed  in  positions  in  which  his  prudence  and  love  of 
peace  would  be  severely  tried  and  tested,  and  he  must  decide 
and  act, and  yet,  when  he  was  placed  and  found  in  cir- 
cumstances that  could  not  be  escaped,  in  positions  that  required 
decision  and  action,  difficult,  unpleasant,  and  painful  though  they 
were,  he  would  have  the  heart  of  a  lion,  and  decide  and  act 
promptly,  firmly,  boldly.  Of  such  promptitude  in  decision, 
such  boldness  in  action,  more  than  once,"  adds  the  reverend 
and  venerable  Mr.  Wellington,  "  was  I  among  others  made  a 
witness." 

The  following  incident,  communicated  by  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson, 
of  Petersham,  who  was  witness  to  what  he  narrates,  illustrates 
Mr.  Estabrook's  decision,  firmness,  and  liberality. 

"At  an  ordination  which  occurred  within  the  limits  of  the 
Association  in  the  year  1827,  Mr.  Estabrook  was  chosen 
Moderator  of  the  Ordaining  Council.  After  the  Council  was 
organized,  some  clergymen  entered  upon  an  examination  of  the 
candidate  as  to  his  doctrinal  views  of  Christianity,  and  finding 
him  deficient,  as  they  thought,  in  regard  to  native  and  total  de- 
pravity, and    the  Trinity,  refused  to  assist  in  his  ordination. 


51 

Mr.  E.,  seeing  their  determination  to  embarrass  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Council,  in  regard  to  the  purpose  for  which  they 
were  called,  with  great  promptness  and  decision  summoned  the 
attention  of  the  Council  to  the  business  for  which  they  were 
convened.  He  remonstrated  against  hesitation  and  delay  by 
perplexing  the  candidate  and  the  people  of  the  town  with  ques- 
tions upon  doctrines  which  had  been  subjects  of  controversy 
for  centuries.  For  his  part,  he  said,  he  should  go  forward, 
and  he  hoped  the  members  would  be  prompt  in  accomplishing 
the  business  for  which  they  were  called.  He  declared  with 
emphasis  that  they  were  able  to  ordain  the  candidate  without 
the  aid  of  those  who  seemed  disposed  to  withhold  their  concur- 
rence and  approbation." 

The  Council  were  moved  by  the  decision  of  the  moderator, 
the  one  party  to  withdraw,  the  other  to  proceed  and  ordain  the 
candidate. 

To  the  close  of  his  long  ministry,  Mr.  Estabrook  retained 
fellowship  with  all  the  neighbouring  clergy, —  with  theCalvinistic 
as  well  as  the  more  liberal  members  of  the  fraternity.  All  re- 
spected him,  and  none  could  refuse  him  the  courtesies  of  minis- 
terial intercourse,  notwithstanding  that,  "when  questions,  either 
before  the  association  to  which  he  belonged,  or  in  ecclesiastical 
councils  of  which  he  was  a  member,  were  to  be  decided  by  ihe 
votes  of  all,  both  Calvinists  and  Unitarians,  at  that  period  com- 
posing such  bodies,  he  invariably  voted  with  the  latter,  the 
liberal  party."  "  I  do  not  recollect,"  adds  Mr.  Wellington, 
who  knew  him  intimately  for  twenty-three  years,  "  that  in  any 
one  instance  his  vote  was  recorded  against  them." 

When  asked  if  Mr.  E.  was  a  Unitarian,  our  reverend 
father  in  the  liberal  faith,  just  quoted,  answers,  "  Sufficiently 
so  for  me."  Perhaps  he  entertained  more  liberal  views  with 
regard  to  ministerial  exchanges  than  all  Unitarian  clergymen 
would  approve. 

But  we  have  no  desire  to  fix  upon  him  the  peculiar  name  of 
any  sect.  No  such  name  belongs  to  him.  He  discarded  sec- 
tarian names  when  living,  and  we  have  no  doubt  that  he  now 
regards  them  with  still  greater  aversion.  In  seeking  religious 
intercourse,  he  was  accustomed  to  be  influenced,  not  by  names, 


52 

but  by  principles.  In  this  respect,  as  in  many  others,  he  was 
a  pattern  worthy  of  imitation. 

As  with  him,  so  with  the  church  over  which  he  was  minis- 
ter,—  it  has  never  taken  upon  itself  the  distinctive  name  of  any 
sect.  It  is  now,  as  it  ever  has  been,  known  as  the  "  First 
Congregational  Church."  May  it  ever  cultivate  the  truly  liberal 
Christian  spirit  of  its  former  pastor,  and  never  refuse  its  fellow- 
ship to  any  disciple  of  Christ  who  is  earnestly  and  prayerfully 
seeking  for  Divine  truth. 

We  have  lengthened  out  our  remarks  upon  this  truly  excel- 
lent man  farther  than  was  our  intention.  But  we  have  found 
pleasure  in  recalling  his  memory,  studying  his  character,  and 
breathing  his  spirit.  "It  is  the  happy  lot  of  few  to  leave 
a  fairer  name,  as  a  Christian  minister,  than  the  Rev.  Jo- 
seph Estabrook,  of  Athol."*  Blessed  be  his  memory! 
May  the  influence  of  his  noble  virtues  and  Christian  excel- 
lence long  be  felt  by  the  successive  generations  of  the  town 
over  which  he  was  for  so  many  years  the  faithful  and  devoted 
pastor  ! 

Near  together,  in  separate  and  decaying  tombs,  sleep  the  re- 
mains of  the  only  pastors  of  this  church  which  the  lapse  of 
a  century  has  gathered  to  their  fathers.  How  fitting  would  it 
be,  could  their  ashes,  enshrined  in  separate  urns,  be  deposited 
in  the  earth,  and  a  suitable  monument  erected  to  mark  the 
spot,  and  tell  the  congregation  that  assembles  on  the  next 
hundredth  anniversary  where  the  dust  of  these  faithful  shep- 
herds mingles  with  the  common  dust  of  their  slumbering 
flocks  ! 

The  settlement  of  a  successor  to  Mr.  Estabrook  proved  an 
event  of  no  small  moment  to  this  parish  and  town.  The  truly 
liberal  and  Christian  intercourse  of  the  late  pastor  with  all  de- 
nominations had  always  been  approved  by  a  large  majority  of 
his  parishioners  ;  and  when  the  occasion  for  settling  a  new  pas- 
tor occurred,  the  general  feeling  was  strongly  in  favor  of  secur- 
ing a  minister  who  would  continue  the  practice  of  Mr.  Esta- 

*  Christian  Register,  May,  1830. 


53 

brook,  and  freely  fellowship  with  all  the  neighbouring  Congrega- 
tional ministers.  Indeed,  the  majority  thought  of  nothing  else, 
and  probably  were  not  expecting  any  serious  opposition  to  this 
Christian  practice.  Although  Mr.  Estabrook  used  repeatedly 
to  say  to  his  brethren  of  the  clergy,  that  there  were  in  town 
elements  for  Jive  societies,  each  having  a  different  creed,  yet 
so  carefully  had  he  guarded  his  flock  from  the  controversies  of 
the  age,  that  most  of  his  hearers  had  not  only  escaped  the  ex- 
clusive spirit  of  the  times,  but  were  almost  wholly  ignorant  of 
its  existence.  Hence,  in  the  first  meeting  called  for  taking 
measures  for  procuring  a  candidate  (May  3,  1S30),  all  acted  in 
harmony,  and  apparently  in  good  faith.  At  that  meeting  a 
committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  procure  a  candidate  for 
settlement,  all  but  one  of  whom,  as  the  sequel  proved,  were  of 
the  exclusive  party  ;  though  the  sentiments  of  some  of  them 
were  misapprehended  at  the  time  of  their  election. 

A  Mr.  Tillotson,  from  the  school  at  New  Haven,  was  en- 
gaged, with  whose  preaching  no  one  was  disposed  to  find  any 
serious  fault.  He  seemed  to  follow  the  example  of  the  late 
pastor,  inasmuch  as  he  said  nothing  of  the  parties,  polemics,  or 
divisions  of  the  day.  He  even  gave  tacit  intimation,  by  preach- 
ing for  Rev.  Mr.  Wilson,  of  Petersham,  that  he  would  be 
Christian  in  his  ministerial  intercourse.  Presently  the  question 
as  to  the  expediency  of  settling  him  over  the  church  and  parish 
began  to  be  discussed  among  the  inhabitants.  All  were  not 
quite  satisfied  with  the  aspect  of  affairs.  In  consequence  of 
these  apprehensions,  which,  as  subsequently  appeared,  were  not 
unfounded,  letters  were  addressed  to  fourteen  of  the  neighbour- 
ing clergymen,  seven  of  whom  were  of  the  rigid  and  seven  of 
the  liberal  party,  making  inquiries  whether  they  would  exchange 
with  the  pastor  who  should  be  settled  over  the  parish,  to  which- 
ever party  he  might  belong.  Answers  were  received  from  all 
save  one  of  these  ministers.  Those  of  the  Calvinistic  persua- 
sion were  pleased  to  declare,  almost  unanimously,  that  they 
would  have  no  intercourse  with  the  liberal  clergymen,  —  one 
of  them  affirming  that  Unitarians  were  not  Christians,  and 
should  not  be  acknowledged  as  such.  No  one  of  the  liberal 
ministers  objected  to  a  free  interchange   of  ministerial  labors 


54 

with  the  person  settled,  to  whichever  party  he  might  prefer  to 
attach  himself.*  This  information,  very  timely  acquired,  in- 
duced the  inhabitants  to  think  it  necessary  to  proceed  with  cau- 
tion in  the  selection  of  a  candidate,  lest  one  should  be  settled 
whose  ministerial  intercourse  might  be  the  opposite  of  what 
they  had  enjoyed  during  the  life  of  their  late  beloved  pastor. 
Accordingly,  the  committee  were  requested  to  ascertain  of  the 
candidate  what  would  be  his  practice  in  respect  to  exchanges, 
if  settled  ;  but  they  absolutely  declined  making  any  inquiries  of 
that  nature.  But  the  inhabitants  were  not  disposed  to  settle  a 
minister  till  these  inquiries  should  be  made  and  answered  ;  and 
therefore,  when  a  motion  was  made  in  town  meeting, by  the 
chairman  of  this  committee,  to  hire  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tillotson 
"  after  the  term  for  which  he  is  engaged  shall  expire,"  the 
town  voted  in  the  negative.  The  truth  is,  a  liberal  feeling  per- 
vaded the  whole  town.  The  people  of  Athol  always  disliked 
party  lines  and  sectarian  names.  They  believed  such  barriers 
to  free  religious  intercourse  unchristian  in  their  influence,  and 
detrimental  to  the  progress  of  Divine  truth  ;  and  they  wished 
for  a  minister  whose  soul  was  noble  enough  to  rise  above  them. 
Any  other  they  could  not,  and  would  not,  endure.  They  were 
by  no  means  strenuous  about  the  candidate's  peculiar  theologi- 
cal tenets,  whether  he  adhered  strictly  to  the  "  Five  Points"  of 
Calvinism,  or  was  imbued  with  the  more  rational,  evangelical, 
and  spiritual  faith  of  the  Liberal  Christians  ;  but  they  were 
anxious  that  he  should  possess  a  liberal  Christian  spirit,  and 
manifest  the  same  in  his  ministerial  exchanges.  Accordingly, 
the  town  by  a  large  majority  passed  the  following  vote  :  — 

"  That  the  town  will  settle  no  man  in  the  ministry  in  the 
Congregational  Society  unless  he  will  obligate  himself,  that,  so 
long  as  he  shall  be   the  minister   in    said   society,  he  will  ex- 

*  These  letters  were  addressed,  and  the  responses  to  them  were  re- 
ceived, by  Clough  R.  Miles,  Esq.,  of  Millbury,  who  was  then  an  attorney  at 
law  in  this  town,  and  who  rendered  most  timely  and  essential  service  to  this 
society  during  the  unhappy  controversy.  In  the  year  1843,  Mr.  Miles's 
office  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  these  letters  were  burnt  with  it,  —  a  cir- 
cumstance much  to  be  regretted,  as  they  would  be  most  deeply  interesting 
documents  a  hundred  years  hence. 


55 

change  ministerial  labors  with  all  the  Congregational  ministers 
in  the  neighbourhood,  who  are  in  regular  standing,  and  who 
will  exchange  with  him  ;  and  that  the  committee  chosen  for 
the  purpose  of  procuring  a  candidate  ascertain  this  fact  of  a 
candidate  before  they  engage  him  as  such." 

After  passing  this  vote,  the  town  reconsidered  their  former 
vote,  not  to  hire  Mr.  Tillotson,  thereby  leaving  it  with  the 
committee  to  engage  him,  if  it  could  be  done  in  accordance 
with  the  instructions  they  had  received.  An  addition  of  five 
members  having  been  made  to  the  committee,  and  two  more 
having  been  chosen  to  fill  the  places  of  two  who  had  re- 
quested to  be  excused  from  further  service,  the  committee 
waited  upon  Mr.  Tillotson,  and  communicated  to  him  their 
instructions  ;  but  he  declined  making  further  engagements,  and 
expressed  his  opinion  that  no  other  person  would  assent  to 
such  terms.  At  this  stage  of  the  controversy,  tlie  excitement 
seems  to  have  become  general  and  earnest.  The  minority, 
actuated,  we  will  not  say  by  what  motives,  —  many,  no  doubt, 
by  a  conscientious  sense  of  duty,  —  seemed  determined  to  in- 
troduce into  this  town  the  same  intolerant  and  exclusive  spirit 
which  had  already  created  division  and  enmity  in  so  many  of 
the  neighbouring  parishes  ;  while  the  majority  were  no  less 
anxious  to  continue  the  same  united,  harmonious,  happy 
Christian  intercourse,  and  unrestricted  ministerial  exchanges, 
which  they  had  enjoyed  with  one  another  and  the  neighbouring 
clergy  for  nearly  half  a  century.  They  were  willing  to  enter 
into  almost  any  arrangement  by  which  so  desirable  a  blessing 
could  be  secured.  They  would  willingly  settle  .a  Calvinistic 
minister,  even,  provided  he  would  exchange  with  Liberal 
Christians.  But  the  minority  would  not  assent  ;  and  a  town 
meeting  was  called,  September  13,  1S30,  to  see  if  the  town 
would  reconsider  their  vote  relative  to  liberal  exchanges.  But 
when  the  question  to  reconsider  was  brought  before  the  meet- 
ing, the  town  voted  by  an  increased  majority,  10S  to  42,  to 
require  compliance  with  their  former  instructions. 

So  strong  an  expression  of  the  prevailing  liberal  spirit  of  the 
inhabitants  having  thwarted  the  attempt  of  the  rigid  party  to 
gain  the  control  of  the  church  and  parish,  the  minority  resolved 


56 

to  effect  the  same  unhappy  division  in  this  town,  that  so  many 
other  towns  in  the  Commonwealth  had  already  experienced  ; 
and  accordingly  they  withdrew  from  this  church  and  parish, 
and  engaged  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tillotson  to  preach  to  them,  which 
he  did  for  the  space  of  three  months,  during  which  time  means 
were  used  and  influences  exerted  which  consummated  the 
work.  The  division  came,  and  such  was  the  lamentable  feel- 
ing excited  by  it,  that  neighbours  and  friends,  who  had  from 
childhood  walked  together  to  the  same  place  of  worship,  and 
lived  united  and  happy  in  one  communion  for  fifty  years,  would 
now  scarce  exchange  friendly  recognitions  as  they  passed  each 
other  in  the  street  !  Even  the  children  of  the  two  societies 
caught  the  same  spirit,  and  consequently  were  deterred,  in 
many  instances,  from  mingling  together  in  their  childish  sports. 
O,  there  was  a  sad  want  of  the  Christian  spirit  somewhere  ! 
All  were  not  born  of  God,  or  there  would  have  been  no  such 
bitterness  in  their  hearts  !  We  charge  the  blame  not  upon  one 
party  or  the  other.  This  is  not  the  duty  we  are  called  upon 
to  perform  this  day  ;  and  we  escape  it  gladly.  But  it  is  our 
duty  to  record  facts.  History  can  yield  to  no  delicacy  of  feel- 
ing, or  personal  courtesy.  It  must  faithfully  chronicle  the 
events  that  are  passed,  and  leave  it  to  the  impartial  multitude 
that  shall  celebrate  our  next  centennial  anniversary,  and  to  the 
Great  Judge  of  all,  to  decide  which  party  acted  most  iu  accord- 
ance with  the  spirit  of  their  Master. 

We  will  not  on  this  occasion  utter  one  word  to  revive  that 
unchristian  spirit  which  we  believe  has  most  happily  subsided. 
We  rejoice  to  believe  that  it  has  passed  away,  and  that  the 
feeling  now  existing  between  the  two  societies  is  of  the  most 
friendly  nature.  May  it  ever  so  continue  ;  and  may  the  First 
Church  and  Society  ever  be  ready,  as  they  always  have  been, 
to  extend  Christian  fellowship  to  Christians  of  every  name, 
until  the  narrow  spirit  of  exclusion,  which  has  so  long  barred 
the  progress  of  truth,  shall  yield  to  the  beautiful  spirit  of 
Jesus  ! 

At  a  legal  town  meeting,  held  October  29,  1830,  after  hav- 
ing heard  the  candidate  for  seven    Sabbaths,  the  town  voted 


57 

unanimously  to  give  Rev.  Josiah  Moore  a  call  to  settle  as  a 
minister  over  the  First  Congregational  Church  and  Society  in 
Athol.  One  of  the  conditions  of  settlement  was,  that  "he 
shall  exchange  ministerial  labors  with  all  the  Congregational 
clergymen  in  the  neighbourhood,  who  are  of  regular  standing, 
and  who  will  exchange  with  him." 

The  ordination  of  Mr.  Moore  took  place  December  8,  1830. 
The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  Rev.  Alonzo 
Hill  of  Worcester.  Rev.  Dr.  Thompson  of  Barre  gave  the 
charge.  Rev.  Luther  Wilson  of  Petersham  made  the  address 
to  the  society. 

Rev.  Mr.  Moore  was,  at  his  own  request,  dismissed  from 
his  pastoral  relations  to  this  church,  August,  1833. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Linus  H.  Shaw,  who  was  or- 
dained November  12,  1834.  After  a  ministry  of  less  than 
two  years,  Mr.  Shaw,  agreeably  to  his  request,  was  dismissed, 
August  29,  1836. 

Although  the  society  continued  to  have  preaching  the  most 
considerable  part  of  the  time,  yet  it  had  no  settled  minister 
from  the  time  of  Mr.  Shaw's  dismission  to  the  ordination  of 
the  present  pastor,  April  19,  1848.      (R.) 

Of  the  history  of  the  church  since  the  separation,  it  is  not 
my  purpose  to  speak  at  length.  In  general,  it  is  well  known. 
Both  of  its  deacons  and  a  majority  of  its  members  left  it  and 
joined  the  new  society,  which  was  organized  November  23, 
1830.  The  first  communion  that  was  observed  under  the 
pastoral  care  of  Mr.  Moore  was  on  the  19th  of  December  fol- 
lowing his  ordination.  The  following  are  the  names  of  the 
persons  who  then  appeared  at  the  service  as  members  of 
the  First  Church,  viz.  Joseph  Rich,  Ebenezer  Stratton, 
Joseph  Stratton,  Mrs.  James  Young,  Mrs.  David  Young, 
Mrs.  Ebenezer  Stratton,  Mrs.  Joseph  Stratton,  and  Mrs. 
Steven  Harwood. 

The  intense  religious  excitement  which  agitated  almost  the 
whole  country,  to  a  greater  or  less  degree,  some  sixteen  or 
seventeen  years  since,  reached  this  town,  and  seriously  affected 
this  society.  Since  that  time  it  has  passed  through  some  dis- 
couraging circumstances  ;  but  we  are  happy  to  believe  that  it 
8 


58 

has  seen  the  dawn  of  a  brighter  era  in  its  history.  The  re- 
ligious truths  and  principles  for  which  it  struggled  and  endured 
have  gained  favor  with  reflecting  minds,  and  are  now  every  day 
more  and  more  pervading  the  entire  community.  Their  noble, 
elevating,  purifying  influence  is  fast  winning  the  love  of  the  most 
devoted  Christians.  God  grant  that  they  may  have  a  sanctify- 
ing influence  upon  all  hearts  !  And  may  this  society  ever  re- 
member, that  nothing  but  a  deep,  earnest,  elevated  practical 
piety  can  ever  give  it  usefulness  or  desirable  permanency. 

The  records  of  the  church,  it  is  believed,  are  preserved  en- 
tire. Some  leaves  have  been  cut  out  of  the  book,  but  there  is 
no  evidence  that  there  was  any  writing  on  them  when  taken  out. 
The  connection  is  complete  without  them.  The  writing  is  be- 
coming somewhat  illegible.  It  is  advisable  that  the  proceedings 
of  this  meeting,  and  of  the  church  henceforth,  be  recorded  in  a 
new  book. 

From  the  original  gathering  of  the  church  up  to  the  present 
time,  it  has  received  into  its  communion  384  members.  Of 
these,  301  became  members  previous  to  the  division,  and  83 
since  that  event.  The  annual  increase  of  the  church  previous 
to  the  division  was  a  fraction  less  than  four  members.  Since 
the  division,  the  increase  has  been  a  fraction  over  four  members 
annually.  Hence  it  appears  that  the  church  has  flourished  quite 
as  well,  so  far  as  regards  its  increase  of  members,  since  the 
division  as  previous  to  it. 

The  growth  of  this  church  has  always  been  without  excite- 
ment. The  town  has  passed  through  several  unnatural  religious 
excitements,  and  though  this  society  has  been  once  or  twice 
affected  by  them,  it  never  took  part  in,  or  approved  of,  them. 
We  say  this,  not  by  way  of  reproach  to  any  other,  or  in  com- 
mendation of  this,  parish  ;  but  simply,  that  the  facts  may  be 
handed  down  to  those  who  shall  judge  of  our  deeds  a  hundred 
years  hence. 

The  two  most  remarkable  excitements  experienced  in  town 
were  those  which  were  felt  more  or  less  over  a  large  portion  of 
our  country,  and  which  were  very  similar  in  their  nature,  —  the 
one  known  here,  in  popular  phrase,  as  the  "  Foote,"  the  other 
as  the  "  Miller"  excitement.      Upon  either  of  these  we  forbear 


59 

comment,  or  even  an  attempt  at  description.     We  would  be 
charitable  in  our  judgment,  especially  of  the  latter. 

The  first  deacons  of  this  church  were  Deacon  David  Twitchel 
and  Deacon  Aaron  Smith,  who  were  chosen  April  25,  1754. 
Deacon  Twitchel  continued  in  this  office  more  than  twenty- 
years,  until  November  10,  1774,  when,  at  his  own  "  earnest 
desire,"  he  was  dismissed,  with  a  hearty  expression  of  gratitude 
on  the  part  of  the  church  "  for  his  faithfulness,  his  unwearied 
pains  and  labor,  while  in  the  office." 

There  is  no  doubt  that  Deacon  Twitchel  was  a  very  worthy 
Christian.  The  aged  people  with  whom  I  have  conversed 
speak  of  him  as  a  "good,  honest  man,"*  —  the  noblest  name  a 
Christian  can  leave  behind  him,  the  richest  legacy  he  can  be- 
queathe to  his  posterity.  Deacon  Twitchel  was  once  surprised 
by  the  Indians,  and  came  near  being  taken  prisoner  by  them  in 
the  vicinity  of  what  is  called  "  High  Knob."  He  succeeded, 
however,  in  reaching  the  fort  in  safety. 

Deacon  Smith  is  also  said  to  have  been  "  a  well-meaning 
man."  That  he  was  a  man  of  considerable  intelligence  is  evi- 
dent from  the  prominent  part  which,  as  the  records  show,  he  took 
in  town  affairs.  iVs  there  is  no  record  that  he  was  dismissed 
from  it,  it  is  probable  that  he  held  the  office  of  deacon  in  the 
church  until  his  death,  March  9,  1798,  —  forty-four  years. 

Mr.  Jesse  Kendall,  son  of  Lieutenant  Samuel  Kendall  of 
Woburn,  and  Mr.  John  Haven,  were  chosen  deacons,  Novem- 
ber 10,  1774.  About  twenty  years  later,  July  20,  1795, 
"brothers"  William  Bigelow  and  Paul  Church  were  chosen 
deacons. 

Deacon  Haven  and  Deacon  Bigelow  were  prominent  men 
in  this  town.     Both  were  chosen  delegates  at  different  times  to 

*  Deacon  Twitchel,  near  the  close  of  his  life,  wrote  his  dying  advice 
to  his  wife  and  family,  which  he  left  as  a  legacy,  with  a  request  that  it 
should  be  read  at  his  funeral,  and  a  copy  transmitted  to  each  branch  of  his 
family.  The  manuscript  was  printed,  —  a  copy  of  which  is  now  before 
me.  The  advice  is  eminently  Christian  in  its  character.  In  it  occurs  the 
following  :  —  "I  charge  one  and  all  of  you,  not  to  take  any  thing  from, 
nor  offer  any  thing  to,  any  person,  but  what  you  think  you  can  safely  die 
by." 


60 

represent  this  town  in  the  Provincial  Congress  held  at  Cam- 
bridge and  Watertown,  at  different  intervals,  just  previous  to 
the  Revolutionary  war.  Both  Deacon  Haven  and  Deacon 
Bigelovv  were,  it  is  said,  pretty  rigid  in  their  religious  tenets, 
and  were  both  active  in  effecting  the  dismissal  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Humphrey. 

Deacon  Church  is  said  to  have  been  a  "  good  and  influen- 
tial man." 

Deacon  Haven  probably  continued  in  the  office  of  deacon 
until  his  death,  July  12,  1807,  at  the  age  of  81  years. 

November  24,  1807,  Mr.  Elijah  Goddard  was  chosen 
deacon.  September  7,  1818,  Mr.  Elijah  Ballard  was  chosen 
to  the  same  office.  Deacon  Goddard  and  Deacon  Ballard 
continued  their  connection  as  deacons  of  this  church  up  to  the 
time  when  the  present  Calvinistic  Society  seceded  from  this, 
and  formed  a  new  church.  Both  joined  the  new  society. 
Since  that  time  there  have  been  but  two  deacons  of  the  First 
Church,  Deacon  Theodore  Jones  and  Deacon  Jonathan  Strat- 
ton,  who  were  chosen  at  a  meeting  of  the  church,  May  25, 
1835.  In  all,  there  have  been  ten  deacons  of  this  church 
during  the  hundred  years  which  have  elapsed  since  its  forma- 
tion. 

Few  churches  have  sustained  a  purer  moral  character  than 
justly  belongs  to  this.  Both  its  first  ministers  were  distin- 
guished for  moral  worth.  All  its  deacons  have  been  of  the 
first  respectability  among  the  citizens  of  the  town.  From  'its 
formation  up  to  the  present  time,  not  a  single  member  has  ever 
been  expelled  from  its  communion,  —  a  fact,  it  is  believed, 
which  can  be  said  of  very  few  sister  churches  of  a  hundred 
years  standing.  From  the  records,  it  appears  that  but  a  single 
person  has  ever  been  suspended  from  communion  ;  and  he  was 
suspended  only  till  "  the  church  have  further  satisfaction  as  to 
his  past  carriage."  We  find  record  of  but  a  single  instance 
during  the  whole  ecclesiastical  century,  in  which  the  pastor  or 
any  other  person  was  appointed  a  committee  to  converse  with 
"  disorderly  members."  It  is  believed  that  few  church  records 
will  exhibit  a  fairer  moral  aspect  than  our  own. 

Four  meeting-houses  have  been  erected  in  this  town  by  the 


61 

First  Parish.  The  first  was  near  the  Old  Burying  Ground  on 
"  Mill  Brook,"  as  before  stated.  The  time  when  it  was 
erected  or  destroyed  cannot  now  be  ascertained.  (M.)  The 
second  was  located,  as  before  remarked,  on  the  Street.  In  it 
there  was  but  one  pew.  This  originally  belonged  to  Dr.  Lord, 
the  first  proprietors'  clerk.  It  was  the  only  house  for  public 
worship  ever  occupied  by  the  parish  until  the  year  1773. 
This  house  was  finally  sold  at  public  vendue  to  Mr.  John 
Humphrey. 

The  third  meeting-house  was  erected  on  the  common,  near 
the  present  large  oak-tree.  It  was  opened  for  public  worship 
on  the  Sabbath,  the  first  Sunday  in  July,  1773.  By  a  vote  of 
the  town,  June  15th,  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  invite 
Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey  to  preach  a  lecture  in  the  new  meeting- 
house before  the  first  Sunday  in  July.  At  first,  there  were  no 
pews  in  this  house.  Each  man  was  required  to  draw  his  "  pew 
ground,"  "  according  to  his  pay  to  the  meeting-house  on  his 
real  and  personal  estate,"  and  to  "  build  his  own  pew."  For 
many  years  after  this  house  was  built,  it  stood  alone,  surrounded 
by  woods,  apart  from  any  dwelling.  Its  lonely  location,  and 
its  no  very  tidy  appearance,  made  it  the  object  of  frequent  jests 
from  passing  strangers  ;  while  its  shattered  windows  told  of 
many  a  rude  urchin's  skill  at  stone-throwing.  Occasionally, 
the  sober  people  of  the  town  would  feel  a  little  incensed  on 
learning  that  some  wag  had  "  Found  "  their  meeting-house, 
and  advertised  the  same  in  the  newspaper. 

The  house  was  burned,  probably  by  an  incendiary,  on  the 
night  of  July  2,  1827. 

The  house  in  which  we  are  now  assembled  was  built  in  the 
year  1828,  at  the  expense  of  upwards  of  five  thousand  dollars, 
on  land  given  for  the  purpose  by  Mr.  Samuel  Sweetser. 
Originally,  the  singers'  seats  were  located  above  and  back  of 
the  pulpit,  at  the  same  end  of  the  house.  Subsequently,  they 
were  arranged  in  the  galleries  opposite  the  pulpit.  The  gal- 
leries were  large,  and  accommodated  with  pews,  so  as,  above 
and  below,  to  convene  the  whole  town,  as  all,  or  nearly  all,  in 
those  days,  attended  upon  this  place  of  worship.  In  the  fall 
of  1S47,  the  house  was  remodelled  and  repaired,  and  fitted  up 


62 

in  its  present  form  ;  the  upper  part  being  finished  into  a  com- 
modious hall,  and  disposed  of  to  the  town  for  a  Town  Hall. 
The  house  of  worship  below  was  re-dedicated  December  8, 
1847. 

There  are  four  principal  localities  where  the  people  of  Athol 
have  buried  their  dead.  Of  these,  the  most  ancient,  most  in- 
teresting, and  most  neglected  is  that  on  "  Mill  Brook,"  below 
Mr.  Hapgood's  match-box  factory,  near  the  spot  where  the 
first  meeting-house  was  erected.  There  lie  buried  the  bones  of 
those  who,  amid  the  privations  of  the  wilderness  and  the 
threatening  danger  from  the  Indians,  toiled  to  lay  the  founda- 
tion of  our  present  prosperity.  There  have  mingled  with  the 
common  dust  the  sinews  of  those  strong  arms  that  first  broke 
the  forest  on  these  hills.  There  have  mouldered  to  ashes  the 
lips  that  first  breathed  the  Christian's  prayer  to  heaven  in  these 
uncultivated  wilds.  There  lie  Richard  Morton  and  Robert 
Oliver,  and  other  kindred  friends.  Neglected,  forgotten,  and 
almost  unknown  by  their  posterity,  is  the  spot  where  rest  the 
early  settlers  of  Pequoiag.  Over  their  graves  which  the  wan- 
ton ploughshare  has  spared,  a  thick  wood  has  grown  up,  and 
almost  obscured  the  sinking  mounds.  The  beasts  of  the  pas- 
ture tread  over  this  hallowed  ground  !  Citizens  of  Athol  ! 
shall  no  fence  inclose  and  no  monument  mark  the  sacred  spot 
where  sleep  the  venerable  fathers  of  this  town,  and  the  rever- 
end founders  of  this  church  ? 

The  graveyard  in  what  was  formerly  called  "  West  Pe- 
quoiag," on  the  west  side  of  Miller's  River,  near  the  covered 
bridge,  ranks  next  for  its  antiquity  and  sacred  reminiscences.  In 
this  sleep  the  remains  of  the  unfortunate  Wallingford,  who  fell 
a  victim  to  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife.  Hence  it  is  evi- 
dent that  this  must  have  been  a  place  of  interment  as  early  as 
August,  1746.  The  land  contained  in  this  yard  was  given  for 
a  burying  ground  by  Samuel  Morton,  one  of  the  first  five  set- 
tlers, and  one  of  the  founders  of  this  church. 

Many  hallowed  associations  and  sacred  remembrances  will 
long  cluster  around  the  old  burying  ground,  in  the  middle 
of  the  town.  Here  rest  the  earthly  remains  of  the  venerable 
pastors  of  this  church,  and  around  moulder  their  slumbering 


63 

flocks.  The  stone  which  marks  the  grave  of  Calvin  Hum- 
phrey, a  son  of  the  first  minister,  who  died  November  29,  1773, 
bears  the  earliest  date  which  I  find  engraven  in  this  yard. 

The  first  interments  in  the  new  cemetery  were  made  May 
25,  1843.  Five  bodies  were  then  removed  from  a  tomb  in 
the  old  yard,  in  which  they  had  been  temporarily  deposited, 
and  were  committed  to  their  final  resting-place  in  the  new 
ground.  This  cemetery  is  overshadowed  with  a  beautiful 
growth  of  native  pines,  and  adorned  with  many  flowers.  It  is 
a  lovely  spot,  well  calculated  to  dissipate  the  unspiritual  gloom 
that  has  been  suffered  to  enshroud  the  graves  of  departed 
friends. 

Had  I  time,  gladly  would  I  rehearse  what  tradition  has  pre- 
served relative  to  the  remnant  of  the  Indian  tribe  that  lingered 
latest  on  the  banks  of  the  Pequoiag.  Here  lived  a  portion  of  the 
Nipnets.*  Konkeput  was  their  chief.  They  built  their  coun- 
cil-fires on  these  plains.  They  gathered  the  wild  grain  on 
these  meadows.  They  hunted  the  deer  on  these  hills.  Here 
they  gave  their  sons  and  daughters  in  marriage,  and  here  they 
buried  the  bones  of  their  fathers.  Relics  of  these  noble  men 
yet  remain,  —  their  pestles  and  arrows,  and  other  rude  imple- 
ments of  husbandry  and  war.  Traces  of  their  wigwams  are 
yet  visible  to  the  searching  eye.  But  that  once  happy  tribe 
is  gone,  —  faded  away  like  the  lingering  shades  of  night  be- 
fore the  brighter  beams  of  the  coming  day.  If  any  one  has  a 
love  for  their  memory,  and  would  seek  the  fittest  spot  to  cherish 
it,  let  him,  at  the  close  of  day,  when  the  setting  sun,  as  now, 
is  lengthening  the  hill  shadows  over  the  village  meadows,  follow 
along  the  banks  of  Tully  Brook,  till,  about  a  mile,  or  less,  from 
its  mouth,  he  shall  pause  by  a  small  green  plat  of  ground  en- 
compassed by  the  divided  stream.  This  is  "  Huncus's  Isl- 
and."    Here  lived,  here  died  Huncus,  the  last  of  the  Nipnets. 

Again  our  minds  revert  to  the  early  settlers  of  Pequoiag. 
Since  those  men  first  kindled  their  fires,  ate  their  evening  meal, 
and  laid  themselves  down  to  rest  beneath  the  silent  shade  of  the 


*  Such  is  the  tradition. 


64 

tall  pines  that  then  covered  these  hills  and  vales,  how  great  the 
change  !  They  woke  to  action.  The  strokes  of  their  axe 
are  heard  breaking  the  stillness  of  these  ancient  wilds.  Trees 
fall  beneath  those  strong-nerved  arms.  The  crash  echoes 
from  hill  to  hill,  and  dies  away  in  the  forest.  The  smoke  of 
their  clearing-fires  rolls  up  from  numerous  openings.  The 
red  man  retires  from  his  hunting-grounds  on  these  meadows. 
His  wigwam  gives  place  to  the  abodes  of  civilization.  By  the 
falls  where  he  speared  the  salmon  and  the  shad  rumbles  the 
corn-mill  of  the  settlers.  Domestic  flocks  now  graze  where 
lately  the  wild  deer  browsed.  The  Indian's  path  becomes  a 
highway  for  our  fathers.  The  church  and  the  school  nurture 
intelligence  and  virtue.  Agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts  are 
fast  multiplying  the  comforts  of  life.  The  turnpike  opens,  and 
new  energy,  activity,  and  enterprise  flow  into  our  town.  The 
stage-coach  rolls  along  the  new-made  road  ;  and  then  the  dash- 
ing car  comes  screaming  by,  winding  round  our  hills  and  dart- 
ing over  our  plains.  'T  is  really  so.  All  this  is  no  dream. 
'T  is  but  the  tale  a  hundred  years  has  told. 

The  century  has  closed.  A  hundred  years  of  our  religious 
history  have  gone  by.  On  this,  too,  we  can  look  back  and  note 
progress.  The  brightening  light  of  truth  has  shone  constantly 
in  upon  prayerful  souls.  Superstition  is  gradually  following 
the  departed  gloom  of  the  forest.  The  nobler  influence  of 
reason  is  dissipating  the  dwarfing  prejudices  of  the  mind. 
Creeds  are  crumbling  into  sand,  and  freed  spirits  are  rising  to- 
wards heaven.  During  the  hundred  years  since  this  church 
was  formed,  a  change  has  come  over  the  theological  world; 
The  old  doctrines  of  Infant  Damnation,  a  literal  Hell,  and 
Total  Depravity,  —  where  are  they  ?  Gone  from  enlightened 
minds,  where  many  doctrines,  no  less  absurd,  now  deemed  es- 
sential to  Christian  fellowship  by  some,  will  have  gone  ere 
another  century  shall  have  passed  away.  Gone  to  be  numbered 
with  the  superstitious  dogmas  that  have  sadly  retarded  the 
progress  of  Christian  truth.  Nobler  views  of  God  and  Chris- 
tianity and  human  duty  are  gladdening  the  hearts  of  mankind, 
and  gradually  permeating  all  religious  sects.     A  more  rational 


65 

faith,  and  a  more  earnest,  vital  piety,  are  exalting  the  human 
soul  nearer  to  the  Divine.  The  religious  community  has  made 
progress,  and  yet  its  progress  is  onward.  The  day  is  only 
dawning.  The  broad  sunlight  of  truth  has  not  yet  shone  in 
upon  any  church.  But  the  star  of  promise  is  brightening. 
The  Antichristian  spirit  of  intolerance,  that  worst  emanation 
from  the  Roman  Church,  is  fast  losing  its  influence  in  the  land 
of  the  Pilgrims.  Men  of  God  have  long  felt  its  unholy 
blight,  and  mourned  over  it.  Angels  have  shed  tears  over  the 
divisions  it  has  caused  in  churches  and  families.  We  rejoice 
to  believe  that  this  spirit  has  had  its  reign.  Long,  long  will  it 
be  deplored.  But  as  those  designing  minds  who  were  instru- 
mental in  giving  it  dominion  for  a  season,  in  our  churches,  over 
the  love  of  God  and  the  spirit  of  Christ,  have  mostly  gone  to 
their  reward,  no  word  of  ours  shall  add  a  pang  to  the  gnawings 
of  that  undying  remorse  which  must  for  ever  prey  upon  their 
awakened  consciences.  Their  punishment,  as  they  look  up 
into  the  sweet,  benignant  countenance  of  Jesus,  and  feel  that 
they  were  the  opposers  of  his  love  on  the  earth,  must  be 
greater  than  they  can  bear.  Over  their  failings  we  would  cast 
the  mantle  of  charity,  remembering  that  we,  too,  are  human. 
May  the  Father  of  mercies  deal  gently  with  them  ;  and  may 
the  Saviour  once  more  raise  to  heaven  his  last  prayer  on  the 
earth,  —  "  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  knew  not  what  they 
did  !  "  We  thank  God  that  every  year  is  freeing  us  more  and 
more  from  their  unholy  influence. 

We  pause.  Another  century  of  our  history  has  com- 
menced. Before  it  shall  close  what  unlooked  for  events  will 
have  come  and  gone  !  what  changes  will  have  taken  place  ! 
what  deeds  have  been  accomplished  !  what  new  truths  revealed! 
Then,  as  now,  indeed,  the  rapid  Pequoiag  will  roll  its  noisy 
tide  on  to  the  Connecticut  ;  these  hills  shall  cast  their  shadows 
over  the  valleys  beneath  ;  the  sun  shall  rise  and  set,  and  the 
clouds  give  down  their  refreshing  rains.  All  else  how 
changed  !  You  and  I  will  have  passed  away.  Not  one  of 
this  dense  congregation  shall  be  spared  to  tell  of  our  meeting. 
Ere  then  our  mouldering  dust  shall  nurture  the  growth  of  the 
9 


66 

tall  pines  in  yonder  cemetery.  Like  our  fathers,  many,  many 
of  us  will  be  forgotten  by  the  busy  throng  that  shall  then  move 
where  are  now  our  happy  homes. 

But  so  let  us  live,  ever  submitting  our  minds  and  hearts  to 
the  divine  influences  with  which  Heaven  is  surrounding  us,  that, 
when  we  shall  be  numbered  with  the  congregation  of  the  de- 
parted, we  may  leave  a  sacred  inheritance  of  intelligence,  vir- 
tue, faith,  and  truth,  to  bless  our  children  and  our  children's 
children  to  the  latest  generation  that  shall  come  after  us. 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX. 


A.   (Page  5.) 

In  writing  the  Indian  name  of  this  river  and  town,  I  have,  in  the 
Discourse,  followed  the  orthography  adopted  by  Rev.  Abraham 
Hill,  proprietors1  clerk,  in  the  Proprietors'  Book  of  Records  ;  not 
because  I  consider  this  the  most  in  accordance  with  the  probable 
Indian  pronunciation  of  the  word,  but  rather  because  it  is  most  in 
harmony  with  the  pronunciation  which  has  gained  currency  in 
town.  I  have  noticed  very  many  different  modes  of  spelling  the 
word.  The  first  proprietors'  clerk,  Dr.  Joseph  Lord,  in  an  agree- 
ment dated  May,  1737,  and  in  several  other  documents  of  later 
date,  now  before  me,  wrote  the  name  of  this  town  Poquoiag.  The 
first  minister,  Rev.  Mr.  Humphrey,  on  the  Church  Book,  invariably 
wrote  it  Perquage.  In  the  original  grant  it  is  written  Paquoag. 
The  original  plan  of  the  town  has  it  Poquioug.  Whitney  gives 
Payquage  and  Pequiog  ;  Barber,  Hist.  Col.,  Peyquage.  Savage, 
in  2d  Vol.  Winthrop's  Journal,  spells  it  Poquaig.  Note  to  Topo- 
graphical View  of  Templeton,  Worcester  Magazine,  Vol.  I.  p. 
117,  gives  as  the  proper  authority  Payquaog.  Mrs.  Rowlandson, 
who  crossed  the  river  more  than  once  in  company  with  the  Indians, 
and  who,  without  doubt,  spelled  the  name  from  their  pronunciation 
of  it,  as  correctly  as  she  was  able,  writes  it  Bayquage.  Probably 
there  is  no  positive  rule  for  spelling  Indian  names. 


B.   (Page  6.) 


Whitney,  in  his  History  of  Worcester  County,  says,  "  When  the 
grant  of  this  township  was  made  by  the  General  Court,  cannot 


70 

now  be  ascertained  "  ;  and  in  no  published  account  of  Athol,  which 
I  have  seen,  are  the  conditions  or  the  date  of  the  grant  established. 
But,  by  the  kindness  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  Hon.  W.  B.  Cal- 
houn, 1  have  been  furnished  with  the  following  copy  from  the 
State  Records  :  — 

"  In  Council,  Friday,  April  20,  1733. 
"  The  following  vote  passed  both  Houses  in  July  last,  viz.  :  — 
"  In  answer  to  that  part  of  His  Excellency's  Speech  which  re- 
lates to  the  ungranted  Lands  of  the  Province.  — Upon  consideration 
ye  Power  is  given  the  General  Assembly  to  grant  Lands  especially 
for  the  Planting  or  Settling  of  the  province  and  that  by  the  Great 
Increase  of  His  Majesty's  good  subjects,  many  that  are  inclined  to 
Industry  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  Lands  for  the  employm1  of 
themselves  and  families  and  ereat  numbers  have  removed  to  neish- 
bouring  Colonies  for  their  accommodation.  — Voted,  that  there  be 
four  towns  opened  of  the  Contents  of  six  miles  square  Each,  viz. 
One  at  Paquoag  on  Miller's  River,  Two  on  Ashuoelot  River  above 
Northfield  —  the  other  in  the  Eastern  Country  at  the  Head  of  Ber- 
wick, all  to  be  surveyed  in  October  or  November  next  at  furthest 
by  the  Direction  of  Commlees  to  be  appointed  by  the  General  Court 
and  their  several  Surveys  to  be  reported  at  the  Fall  Session  and 
the  Charge  of  the  Commlee  and  Survey  to  be  paid  out  of  the  Public 
Treasury  yl  Commtees  be  appointed  to  admit  Settlers  and  to  layout 
the  House  Lots  so  that  ye  Settlem13  may  be  made  in  a  Defensible 
manner  and  to  direct  in  the  drawing  thereof,  but  not  to  lay  out  any 
other  Divisions  without  further  Directions  from  this  Court.  Each 
Home  Lot  to  consist  of  so  many  acres  as  the  Court  shall  Or- 
der. After  Report  is  made  of  the  Quality  and  other  Circum- 
stances of  the  Land,  the  Commtees  to  be  paid  as  the  Court  shall  or- 
der, that  there  be  Sixty  three  House  Lots  laid  out  in  Each  Town- 
ship, One  for  the  first  settled  Minister,  One  for  the  ministry,  one  for 
the  School  and  one  for  each  of  the  Sixty  Settlers  who  shall  settle 
thereon  in  his  own  person  or  by  one  of  his  Children.  The  rest  of 
the  land  to  be  allotted  or  divided  equally  into  Sixty  three  parts; 
That  one  Year  be  allowed  from  the  Survey  for  the  Admission  of 
Settlers,  and  that  the  Commlea  be  directed  to  demand  and  receive 
from  Each  Settler  at  his  admission  Five  pounds  part  of  which  shall 
be  employed  for  reimbursing  the  Province  the  money  to  be  ad- 
vanced for  paying  the  Committee  and  the  charge  of  the  Survey, 


71 

the  remaining  part  to  be  employed  for  building  Houses  for  Publick 
Worship  or  otherwise  as  the  General  Court  shall  Order.  That 
Each  Settler  actually  live  'on  his  land  within  three  years  from 
his  admission,  build  an  House  on  his  land  of  Eighteen  feet  square 
and  seven  feet  stud  at  the  least  and  within  the  same  time  do  suf- 
ficiently fence  in  and  till  or  fit  for  mowing  Eight  acres  of  land, 
Each  Settler  to  have  his  Land  on  Condition  that  he  perform  the 
foregoing  injunctions  and  in  case  any  Settler  fail  of  performance  in 
the  whole  or  in  part,  his  Right  to  be  forfeited  and  such  Land  shall 
revert  to  the  province  and  the  Commtee  to  be  appointed  to  admit 
Settlers  are  directed  at  the  time  of  admission  to  take  a  Bond  of 
Twenty  Pounds  of  each  Settler  to  be  paid  to  them  or  their  suc- 
cessors for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  Settlers,  in  case  he  fail  of 
performing  the  Several  conditions  and  Injunctions  before  mentioned 
and  that  the  Settlers  in  each  Town  to  be  obliged  to  build  a  suitable 
meeting  house  and  to  settle  a  learned  Orthodox  minister  in  such 
town  within  the  space  of  five  years  from  the  admission  of  the 
Settlers. 

"  Consented  to  J.  Belcher." 


C.   (Page  6.) 

"  The  following  is  a  List  of  the  Names  of  the  men  admitted  by 
the  Honble  William  Dudley,  Chairman  of  the  Comce  and  others, 
the  Great  and  General  Court's  Committee,  to  draw  House  Lotts  in 
the  Township  of  Pequoiag  on  Miller's  River,  on  the  26  of  June 
1734  at  Concord,  as  Settlers  of  said  Pequoiag  :  — 


Names  of  Men. 


East, 


Edward  Goddard, 
Daniel  Epps  Jun., 
Daniel  Epps  Son., 
Ebenezer  Goddard,    " 
Zechariah  Field,         " 
Nehemiah  Wright,  West, 
Richard  Wheeler, 
Richard  Morton, 
Samuel  Morton, 
Ephraim  Smith, 
Nathan  Waite, 


East, 
West, 


East, 


4* 

O   3) 

East, 

13 

West 

11 

East, 

9 

West, 

4 

u 

18 

u 

7 

u 

12 

" 

9 

II 

1 

u 

3 

" 

15 

Names  of  Men. 


East, 
West, 


John  Wood, 

Benj.  Townsend, 

Jonathan  Morton, 

Joseph  Smith, 

William  Oliver, 

Moses  Dickinson, 

Joshua  Dickinson, 

James  Kellogg, 

Richard  Crouch, 

Ezekiel  Wallingford,  West, 

James  Jones,  " 


East, 

II 

West, 
(i 

West, 

East. 


East,       1 

"         10 

2 

G 

10 

9 

13 


West, 
East, 


West, 

u 

East, 


72 


Names  of  Men. 

■5  . 

"o  S 

.§3 

■5% 
■c.SP 

Names  of  Men. 

■g.£P 

go 

w 

v.  JC 

"Z," 

w 

KEC 

!5  " 

Charles  Duharthy, 

West, 

West, 

13 

John  Grout, 

West, 

East, 

12 

Gad  Waite, 

(t 

East, 

3 

Daniel  Adams, 

(< 

West 

,  5 

Joseph  Lord, 
Benoni  Twichel, 

East, 

" 

3 

John  Cutting, 

East, 

u 

17 

" 

West, 

10 

Samuel  Kendall, 

West, 

East, 

6 

John  Wallis, 

« 

East, 

7 

u               u 

East, 

ii 

2 

Samuel  Willard, 

u 

West, 

7 

Jonathan  Page, 

" 

West 

14 

John  Smeed, 

West, 

East, 

5 

John  Longley, 

(i 

East, 

4 

William  Chandler, 

East, 

West, 

6 

Joseph  Brown, 

ti 

West 

5 

Jonathan  Marble, 

West, 

u 

11 

John  Child, 

(I 

East, 

11 

William  Higgens, 

East, 

East, 

8 

Nathaniel  Graves, 

(« 

u 

12 

James  Kenney, 

West, 

West, 

9 

George  Danforth, 

West, 

u 

14 

Abner  Lee, 

East, 

West, 

1 

James  Fay, 

u 

West, 

8 

Abraham  Nutt, 

West, 

East, 

2 

Capt.  Jos.  Bowman,  " 

Cl 

4 

John  Headly, 

East, 

West, 

2 

Francis  Bowman, 

East, 

<( 

13 

Isaac  Fisk, 

« 

East, 

5 

Stephen  Fay, 

West, 

East, 

16 

Daniel  Fisk, 

West, 

" 

1 

Israel  Hamond, 

" 

M 

15 

Thomas  Hapgood, 

East, 

West, 

16 

Benjamin  Bancroft,  " 

West, 

14 

Richard  Ward, 

West, 

it 

6 

Joseph  Harrington 

,  East, 

ii 

3 

Samuel  Tenney, 

« 

East, 

8 

James  Holden, 

West, 

East, 

11 

"  N.  B.  I  transcribed  the  above  from  a  List  under  the  Hand  of 
Joseph  Lord,  who  made  oath  to  the  Truth  of  it,  and  adds  the  fol- 
lowing. 

"  N.  B.  viz.  This  above  mentioned  List  is  what  the  Clerk  of 
Pequoiag  has  always  made  use  of  for  want  of  an  attested  Copy  ;  and 
also  entered  in  their  Book  of  Records  without  attest. 

"  The  above  entered  pr  A.  Hill,  Prop13  Clerk,  Aug81  24,  1761." 

(See  Proprietors'  Book  of  Records,  p.  2.) 

The  Pequoiag  received  the  name  of  Miller's  River,  according  to 
tradition  and  Whitney's  History  of  Worcester  County,  from  the 
circumstance,  that  a  man  by  the  name  of  Miller  was  drowned  in  it 
near  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  in  attempting  to  cross  it  on  his 
way  to  Northfield. 

Tully  Brook,  so  called,  derived  its  name,  tradition  says,  from  an 
Indian's  dog,  which,  in  following  a  deer,  drove  the  animal  over  the 
meadows  into  this  stream,  where  the  flying  stag,  turning,  made  a 
bold  stand ;  upon  which  the  faithful  dog  made  an  attempt  to  seize 
his  prey,  but  the  deer,  striking  him  with  his  foot,  dashed  him  under 
water,  and  there  held  poor  Tully  till  he  was  drowned.  Hence  the 
name  of  the  stream. 


73 


D.   (Page  6.) 

My  authority  for  the  precise  date  of  the  arrival  of  the  first  in- 
habitants of  this  town  is  a  manuscript  "  Memorandum  of  the  First 

Settlers, taken  from  the  best  authority  that  can  be  obtained  from 

the  oldest  inhabitants,"  by  James  Humphrey,  Esq.,  son  of  the  first 
minister  of  the  town,  which  manuscript,  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr. 
Humphrey,  by  the  kindness  of  his  son,  the  present  Mr.  James  Hum- 
phrey of  this  town,  by  whom  it  is  preserved,  is  now  before  me.  To 
the  same  source  I  am  also  indebted  for  the  names  of  the  first  five 
settlers,  the  place  from  which  they  came,  and  the  fact  that  they 
were  obliged  to  resort  there  for  provision,  as  stated  in  the  Discourse. 
Mr.  Humphrey  may  be  considered  sufficient  authority  for  these 
facts,  since,  as  stated  in  the  manuscript,  he  was  personally  and 
familiarly  acquainted  with  some  of  these  early  settlers,  and  derived 
his  information  from  them.  The  date  of  the  settlement  of  the 
town,  as  noted  by  Mr.  Humphrey,  is  corroborated  by  other  dates  in 
the  same  manuscript,  and  by  other  reliable  authority.  There  is  a 
tradition  in  the  Morton  and  Lord  families,  that  at  least  three  sons 
were  born  here  during  the  first  winter  after  the  arrival  of  the  first 
settlers,  viz.  Abraham  Morton,  son  of  Richard  Morton,  Abner  Mor- 
ton, son  of  Samuel  Morton,  and  Thomas  Lord,  son  of  Joseph  Lord. 

In  Mr.  Humphrey's  MS.  it  is  noted  that  Abner  Morton  was 
born  January  8,  1736,  and  died  April,  1823,  in  the  88th  year  of 
his  age  ;  which  statistics  corroborate  the  date  of  settlement.  In 
a  manuscript  memorandum  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  town, 
noted  by  Mr.  Alden  Spooner,  as  dictated  by  Asa  Lord  (October  1, 
1845),  who  was  born  at  Pequoiag,  October  1,  1761,  and  was  son 
of  Thomas  Lord,  it  is  stated  that  Thomas  Lord,  the  father  of  Mr. 
Spooner's  informant,  "  was  born  in  January  the  next  year  after  the 
arrival  of  his  parents  at  Pequoiag,"  and  that  he  "died,  November, 
1810,  aged  seventy-five  years,  minus  one  month  and  fourteen  days." 
The  Church  Book  has  the  following  record  : — "  Athol,  December 
3,  1810.  Died  Thomas  Lord,  aged  75  years."  There  is  a  slight 
discrepancy  between  the  two  records,  but  the  one  agrees  with  the 
other  so  far  as  is  necessary  to  corroborate  the  date  of  the  arrival 
of  the  first  settlers  in  town,  as  given  by  Mr.  Humphrey  in  the  man- 
uscript before  me,  viz.  September  17,  1735. 
10 


74 


E.   (Page  7.) 

My  authorities  for  the  names  of  these  later  settlers,  and  the  other 
facts  stated  in  the  paragraph  from  which  reference  is  made  to  this 
note,  are  Mr.  Spooner's  manuscript  before  referred  to,  Proprietors' 
Book,  Church  Records,  and  traditionary  accounts  received  from 
some  of  the  oldest  native  citizens  now  living  in  town.  Besides 
thes*e  is  a  Letter  of  Attorney,  now  before  me,  given  to  Robert 
Young  by  one  William  Hagan,  of  Holliston,  dated  May  4,  1736, 
authorizing  said  "Robert  Young  of  Holliston  aforesaid,  weaver,"  to 
take  entire  charge  of  house-lots  and  other  lands  belonging  to  said 
Hagan,  and  lying  "  in  the  new  Township  called  or  known  by  the 
name  of  Pequaiog."  The  date  of  this  instrument,  considering  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  given,  renders  it  very  probable  that  Mr. 
Young  settled  here  in  the  spring  or  summer  of  the  year  1736. 


F.  (Page  13.) 

Besides  those  mentioned  in  the  Discourse,  several  others  belong- 
ing to  this  town  suffered  in  consequence  of  the  Indian  troubles. 

Mr.  Samuel  Graves,  son  of  Eleazer  Graves,  during  the  French 
and  Indian  war,  enlisted  into  the  army  and  died  in  the  service  at 
Crown  Point,  November  20,  1759. 

Mr.  Adonijah  Ball,  son  of  Isaac  and  Rachel  Ball,  also  a  soldier  at 
Crown  Point,  died  at  Saratoga,  on  his  way  home  from  the  army,  in 
the  year  1760.     (Church  Records.) 

Abraham  Morton,  son  of  Richard  Morton,  and  the  first  white 
child  born  in  this  town,  enlisted  into  the  service,  under  Colonel 
Rogers,  and  engaged  with  him  in  the  expedition  against  Canada. 
He  never  returned.  Tradition  says,  that,  after  Rogers's  defeat,  the 
party  to  which  Morton  belonged,  on  their  return  home,  being  out 
of  provision,  came  near  starving,  and  that  the  strong  probability  is, 
the  party  drew  lots  to  determine  who  of  their  number  should  yield 
his  body  to  save  the  rest  from  famishing.  It  is  supposed  that  the 
lot  fell  upon  Mr.  Morton,  and  that  he  suffered  death  in  conse- 
quence. 


75 

I  have  set  this  tradition  down  as  I  have  it  from  Mr.  Jeremiah 
Morton,  who  received  it  many  years  ago  from  an  old  gentleman  who 
was  one  of  Rogers's  men,  and  who  with  others  separated  from 
Morton's  party  after  the  agreement  was  made  by  that  party  to 
draw  lots.  The  report  of  a  gun  soon  after,  together  with  the  fact 
that  Morton  has  never  since  been  heard  of,  is  the  evidence  on 
which  rests  the  supposition  of  his  unhappy  fate. 


G.   (Page  14.) 

This  Mr.  Samuel  Kendall  was  from  Woburn,  where  he  was  born, 
October  29,  1682,  son  of  Thomas  and  Ruth  Kendall.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  activity  and  enterprise,  well  known  as  Lieutenant 
Kendall,  having  received  a  lieutenant's  commission  from  Governor 
Belcher,  October  5,  1732.  He  was  an  extensive  land-owner  in  his 
native  town,  and  was  also  an  original  proprietor  of  North  Town, 
or  Townsend.  He  was  likewise  an  original  proprietor  of  Pequoiag, 
and  one  of  the  principal  men  among  the  early  settlers  of  this  town. 
Here  he  and  several  of  his  sons  suffered  from  flood  and  from  dep- 
redations of  the  Indians  in  the  French  war  between  the  years  1744 
and  1760.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  was  a  man  who  did 
good  service  in  the  early  settlement  of  this  town.  He  died  at  Wo- 
burn, December  13,  1764.  (MS.  Genealogy  of  Kendall  Family.) 
Probably  he  never  was  a  resident  of  this  town  for  any  considerable 
length  of  time,  if  at  all. 


H.    (Page  14.) 

An  agreement  to  build  a  saio-m\\\  had  previously  been  made  by 
the  proprietors  with  a  son  of  Mr.  Kendall,  as  appears  from  the  fol- 
lowing declaration,  in  the  handwriting  of  the  first  proprietors'  clerk, 
which  I  found  in  a  bag  of  old  papers  now  in  the  possession  of 
Mr.  Lyman  Kendall  of  this  town.  The  signatures  appear  to  be  the 
genuine  autographs  of  the  subscribers. 


76 

"  Poquoiag,  May  24,  1737. 
"  We  the  Subscribers  John  Smeed  and  Joshua  Dickinson  being 
chosen  a  Committee  for  ye  Proprietors  of  Poquoiag  for  agreeing 
with  some  men  for  building  of  Mills  and  we  having  agreed  with 
Samuel  Kendall  junr.  of  Woburn  for  building  a  Saw  mill  and  cove- 
nanted with  him  to  take  50  acres  of  Land  as  part  of  pay  or  En- 
couragement the  said  Samuel  Kendall  has  at  his  own  choice  taken 
up  said  land  of  50  acres  upon  the  North  side  of  the  Mill  brook 
down  stream,  by  bounding  it  with  2  corners  begining  at  a  Pine 
tree  marked  S.  K.  on  ye  Northwardly  side  being  on  brow  or  side  of 
a  little  Pine  hill  a  little  westward  of  the  Pond,  from  thence  running 
westwardly  over  said  Mill  brook  down  toward  the  great  river  to  a 
little  pond  hole,  then  turning  Northwardly  near  the  hopfield,  then 
turning  Eastwardly,  pr  running  till  it  Encompass  all  fifty  acres  by 
closing  with  the  pine  tree  first  mentioned  where  it  began. 
[Signed]  John  Smeed. 

Joshua  Dickinson. 
"  A  true  Copy.   Attest,  Pr.  Joseph  Lord,  Propr.  Clerk." 
There  is  no  record  bearing  so  early  a  date   as  this  upon  the 
present  Proprietors1  Book. 


I.    (Page  14.) 

It  is  a  matter  of  doubt  where  the  saw  or  grist  mill  was  first 
erected.  Very  early  in  the  settlement  of  the  town  there  was  a 
grist-mill  and  saw-mill  on  the  spot  where  Mr.  Knovvlton's  shop  is 
now  located.  It  is  even  perhaps  quite  doubtful  whether  the  first 
mill  was  located  on  Miller's  River;  for  according  to  the  agreement 
adduced  in  Note  H,  "  Mill  Brook"  was  so  called  as  early  as  1737, 
when  said  agreement  was  made.  Whether  it  was  so  called  from 
the  circumstance  that  a  mill  had  been  previously  built  on  it,  or  be- 
cause it  afforded  numerous  seats  for  mills,  or  from  some  other 
cause,  I  have  been  unable  to  determine.  January  3,  1759,  the 
proprietors  voted  not  to  build  the  grist-mill  on  "  Mill  Brook,  so 
called,"  but  "at  the  'Old  Mill  Place,'  so  called"  (Proprietors' 
Book,  p.  144),  from  which  it  may  be  inferred  that  the  oldest  mill 
place  was  not  on  Mill  Brook. 


77 


J.    (Page  14.) 

But  although  Mr.  Lee  was  nominally  clerk,  Mr.  Lord,  it  seems, 
was  virtually  so,  and  continued  to  act  in  that  capacity  up  to  the  year 
1758,  retaining  in  his  possession  all  the  books,  papers,  &c.  (See 
Prop.  Book,  p.  135 ;  also,  Petition  to  Gen.  Court,  Note  L.) 

It  appears  that  there  was  no  other  man  in  the  settlement  who 
was  capable  of  properly  discharging  the  duties  of  proprietors'  clerk  ; 
and  when  Dr.  Lord  proved  himself  not  trustworthy,  the  proprietors 
seem  to  have  been  obliged  to  seek  a  clerk  in  some  other  place. 


K.    (Page  15.) 

By  the  records  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  this  county, 
November  term,  1759,  it  appears  that  the  action  in  favor  of  "  the 
Proprietors  of  ye  common  and  undivided  Lands  in  said  new  town- 
ship called  Poquioge  "  against  "  Joseph  Lord  of  the  new  township 
called  Poquioge  in  sd.  county,  Physician,"  was  referred  to  "  the 
Honble  John  Chandler,  Esq1'  John  Worthington,  Esq1"  and  Mr. 
Benja.  Kent,"  who  made  a  report  on  which  judgment  was  rendered 
by  the  Court  as  follows :  — 

"  It  is  therefore  considered  by  the  Court  that  the  said  report  be 
accepted,  and  that  the  said  Joseph  Lord  shall  within  six  days  from 
this  time  deliver  up  to  sd.  Proprietors  the  Books,  Records  fyc  sued 
for  together  with  all  Records  Papers  Plans  and  Writings  which  the 
said  Joseph  hath  in  his  hands  as  Clerk  of  sd  Proprietors  to  the  Com- 
miitee  of  sd.  Proprietors  appointed  to  receive  the  same  and  pay  cost 
of  Reference  and  cost  of  suit,  and  upon  the  Failure  thereof  that  the 
said  Proprietors  recover  against  the  said  Joseph  Lord  one  Thousand 
Pounds  Lawful  money  Damage  and  cost  of  suit  and  cost  of  Ref- 
erence Taxed  at  in  ye  whole  ye  sum  of  £  23  :  8.  1  —  and  that 
Ex'on.  Issue  out  accordingly  in  four  days  after  the  sd  Joseph  Lord 
has  had  notice  of  this  Judgment  and  the  Clerk  certified  thereof. 
"  Exon.  Issued  16.  Nov.  1759.  for  £  1000.  0.  0  Da. 

23 :  8.   1  cost,  D.  D. 
Caldwell." 

The  above  record  has  been  kindly  furnished  me  by  the  present 
Clerk  of  the  Courts  for  this  county,  Charles  W.  Hartshorn,  Esq. 


78 


L.   (Page  15.) 

Rev.  Abraham  Hill,  of  Shutesbury,  then  Road  Town,  succeeded 
Mr.  Lord  as  clerk  of  the  proprietors.  He  was  a  man  well  qualified 
for  the  office,  as  the  present  Proprietors'  Book  of  Records  made  out 
by  him  will  bear  ample  testimony.  He  held  the  office  of  clerk 
four  years,  during  which  time  he  continued  to  reside  at  Road 
Town.  Subsequently,  when  the  troubles  preliminary  to  the  Revo- 
lution assumed  a  serious  aspect,  Mr.  Hill  proved  unfriendly  "  to 
the  American  cause."     (Barber's  Hist.  Col.) 

In  consequence  of  the  loss  of  the  records,  the  proprietors  ap- 
pointed Mr.  Hill  chairman  of  a  committee  to  draft  and  present  the 
following  petition  to  the  General  Court.* 

"  To  the  honble  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq"  lieutenant  Governor  and 
Commander  in  chief  in  and  over  the  province  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay  the  honble  his  majesty's  council  and  the  honble  house  of 
Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled,  June  1760. 

"  The  Proprietors  of  the  common  and  undivided  lands  in  Pe- 
quoiag  so  called  in  the  County  of  Worcester —  humbly  show. 

"  That  the  said  place  called  Pequoiag  hath  been  settled  upwards 
of  twenty  years  hath  at  this  time  near  fifty  families  and  hath  had  a 
minister  settled  about  ten  years. 

"  That  from  the  beginning  of  the  Settlement  till  about  two  years 
ago  Joseph  Lord  Esqu  acted  as  Proprietors'  Clerk  and  kept  all  the 
records  and  proceedings  of  said  propriety  all  the  grants  surveys  and 
laying  out  of  land  within  the  same  he  was  also  treasurer  the  greater 
part  of  the  time,  and  received  all  the  monies  collected  by  taxes  or 
for  sales  of  delinquent  proprietors  land  and  is  probably  supposed  to 
be  largely  arrear  to  them  on  that  account. 

"  That  in  June  1758  a  new  treasurer  and  a  new  clerk  were 
chosen  and  the  sfl  Joseph  Lord  refusing  to  deliver  up  the  books 
and  papers  of  the  propriety  an  action  was  commenced  against  him 
therefor  and  at  the  inferiour  Court  held  at  Worcester  in  November 
last  the  proprietors   recovered  judgment  for  the    said  books  and 

*  For  this  petition  I  am  obliged  to  the  Secretary  of  State,  by  whose 
kindness  it  has  been  copied  for  me  from  the  original  in  the  Secretary's 
Office  at  Bos  on. 


79 

papers  to  be  delivered  to  them  or  in  default  thereof  execution  to 
issue  for  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds,  lawful  money. 

"But  before  the  said  judgement  was  rendered  the  said  Joseph 
Lord  absconded  and  hath  ever  since  been  out  of  this  province  hath 
never  delivered  up  the  sd  books  and  papers  but  keeps  the  same  nor 
hath  left  estate  to  a  quarter  part  of  the  damage  recovered. 

"  Thus  the  petitioners  are  deprived  of  their  records  and  those 
who  hold  their  several  possessions  as  original  proprietors  or  have 
purchased  the  lands  of  delinquent  proprietors  left  without  their 
proper  and  needful  proofs  and  we  are  in  the  utmost  danger  of  run- 
ning into  total  confusion. 

"  The  petitioners  therefore  humbly  apply  to  this  honble  Court  for 
direction  and  relief  in  a  case  so  singularly  circumstanced  and 
wherein  they  are  without  remedy  in  the  common  course  of  law,  and 
pray  your  honours  consideration  of  their  premises  and  that  you  will 
grant  such  direction  and  relief  therein  as  to  your  wisdom  shall  seem 
meet. 

"  And  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray  &c. 

"  Abraham  Hill    )  Comttee  of  sd  proprietors 
John  Caldwell  )      and  by  their  order." 

"  In  the  House  of  Reptves  June  11,  1760. 
"  Read   and   Ordered   that  the   Prayer  of  the   Petrs   be  so  far 
granted  as  that  the  Pet1"3  be  allowed  to  bring  in  a  Bill  for  the  pur- 
poses mentioned. 

"  Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

"  James  Otis,  Speaker. 

"  In  Council,  June  11,  1760  :  Read  and  Concurred. 

"  A.  Oliver,  Secly-  " 

"  In  Council,  Wednesday  June  18th  1760. 
"  Read  and  Reconsidered  and  Nonconcurred,  and  Resolved  that 
the  present  clerk  of  the  said  Proprietors,  the  Revd  Mr.  Abraham  Hill 
be,  and  hereby  is  directed  to  make  a  new  Book  of  the  Records 
of  said  Proprietors,  during  the  time  that  the  said  Joseph  Lord  was 
Proprietor's  Clerk,  from  the  minits  that  may  appear  of  Transac- 
tions in  that  time,  and  from  the  Remembrance  of  the  Proprietors, 
and  after  he  hath  finished  the  same  that  he  lay  it  before  the  said 
Proprietors,  at  some  Proper  meeting  for  that  purpose  warned  and 
then  that  he  do  lay  the  same  before  this  Court.     To  the  end  this 


80 


Court  may  then  determine  whether  it  shall  be  established  as  the 
Records  of  the  said  Propriety. 

"  In  the  House  of  Representatives  :  Read  and  concurred 
"  Consented  to  by  the  Lieutenant  Governor." 


M.   (Pages  16,  61.) 

In  what  year  this  house  was  built,  in  consequence  of  the  loss  of 
the  records,  cannot  now  be  ascertained.  That  it  was  not  previous 
to  the  year  1741  is  inferred  from  an  original  plan  and  description 
of  "  fifty-eight  acres  of  land  "  lying  on  both  sides  of  "  Mill  Brook  " 
(which  document  was  found,  since  the  delivery  of  the  Discourse,  in 
the  bag  of  old  papers  referred  to  in  Note  H),  surveyed  and  laid 
out  by  Abner  Lee,  agreeably  to  a  vote  of  the  proprietors,  "  Sep- 
tember ye  2d.  1741,"  "and  to  ye  election  and  choice  of  Ll  Sam- 
uel Kindle,"  "  on  the  original  Right  of  Jonathan  Marble,  No.  30, 
ye  eight  acres  to  Lyee  in  common  for  a  Buring  Place  and  Meeting 
house  place,  if  ye  Proprietors  shall  think  proper  to  put  them  too." 

At  this  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  September  2,  1741,  it 
was  voted  (as  certified  by  Mr.  Lee  in  a  statement  preliminary  to  the 
description  of  the  plan  alluded  to  above)  that  they  would  lay  out 
fifty  acres  of  land  to  each  right.  In  this  lot  were  included  fifty- 
eight  acres  ;  "  ye  Eight  "  to  lie  common  for  a  "  Meeting  house 
Place,"  &c.,thus  leaving  to  Mr.  Kendall  the  same  number  of  acres 
in  his  lot  which  were  laid  to  the  other  rights.  Hence,  since  the 
eight  acres  were  to  lie  in  common  on  the  condition  that  the  pro- 
prietors should  think  proper  to  occupy  the  lot  for  a  "  meeting  house 
place,"  &c,  it  is  probable  that  the  land  was  not  then  so  occupied. 


N.   (Page  22.) 

CHURCH    COVENANT. 

"  We  do  first  of  all  Confess  ourselves  Unworthy  of  such  a  favor 
as  to  be  called  into  the  Church  State  of  the  Gospel,  and  admire  the 
free  and  Rich  grace  of  God  which  Calls  Us. 


81 

"  We  confess  our  Original  Guilt  and  Pollution  and  the  Sins  of  our 
Lives  and  Profess  A  hearty  Repentance  of  all  our  Sins,  Wherein 
we  have  offended  the  holy  God. 

"  We  do  humbly  and  thankfully  Lay  hold  of  the  Covenant  of  grace 
and  Promise  of  Pardon  and  Peace  therein,  and  this  we  Do  Under  A 
Due  Sense  of  our  own  Insufficiency  and  Inability  to  that  which  is 
good  and  acceptable  to  God,  on  account  of  our  Sinfulness  and 
Proneness  to  offend  the  most  high  and  holy  God  in  heart  and  life 
through  the  Prevalency  of  sin  in  Us,  and  manifold  Temptations 
without  Us. 

"  We  do  now  Solemnly  Enter  into  Covenant  With  God  and  one 
another  in  God,  With  a  humble  and  Entire  Dependence  on  the 
Promised  Grace  of  the  Covenant  Unto  the  faithful. 

"  We  Profess  and  Declare  our  Serious  and  hearty  Belief  of  the 
Christian  Religion  as  it  is  Contained  in  the  holy  Scriptures  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament.  We  acknowledge  the  Sacred  Oricles 
Do  Comprise  the  Whole  revealed  Will  of  God  respecting  what  we 
are  to  Believe  and  what  we  are  to  Do,  in  order  to  obtain  accept- 
ance with  God  and  Complete  Liberty  in  him  and  we  resolve  by  his 
grace  to  conform  our  hearts  and  lives  Unto  this  Divine  Revelation 
as  the  Only  rule  and  Perfect  Platform  of  our  holy  Religion. 

"  We  give  up  ourselves  unto  the  Lord  Jehovah,  the  Father,  the 
Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  ye  one  only  Living  and  true  God,  and 
avouch  him  this  Day  to  be  our  God  and  our  Portion  forever. 

"  We  give  up  ourselves  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  who  is  God- 
Man  and  only  Mediator  of  the  Covenant.  We  acknowlidge  him  in 
his  Sacred  offices  of  Prophet,  Priest  and  King,  and  head  of  his 
People  in  the  Covenant,  and  We  promise  by  his  Grace  to  adhere 
unto  him  as  such  by  faith  and  Gospel  Obedience  as  it  Becomes  his 
Covenant-People. 

"  We  give  up  ourselves  to  the  holy  Spirit,  as  our  Sanctifier,  Com- 
fortor  and  Guide  In  and  by  the  Blessed  Word  of  God  Written  by 
his  Inspiration.  s 

"  We  acknowledge  our  Indispensable  Oligation  to  Glorify  our  God 
in  all  ye  Duties  of  a  Good,  Sober  and  Righteous  Life  and  Particu- 
larly in  the  Duties  of  a  Church  State  as  a  body  of  People  associated 
for  Obedience  to  him  In  all  the  Ordinances  of  ye  Gospel. 

"  We  engage,  (With  Dependance  on  his  Promised  grace)  to  Walk 
together  as  a  Church  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  In  the  faith  and  order 
11 


82 

of  the  Gospel  —  To  keep  the  Lord's  Day  holy  to  him,  and  attend 
the  Publick  Worship  of  God  thereon,  Praying  to  him,  Singing  Praise 
and  giving  reverend  attention  to  his  Word  read  and  Preached,  ac- 
cording to  his  Justification  — To  hold  Communion  With  Each  other 
In  the  administration  of  the  Seal  of  the  Covenant,  Baptism  and«ye 
Lord's  Supper  —  To  Submit  to  the  holy  Discipline  appointed  by 
Christ  in  his  Church,  Obeying  them  yt  are  over  us  in  the  Lord. 

"  To  Walk  in  Love  one  With  another  Endeavoring  our  Mutual 
Edification  and  Comfort,  Carefully  Minding  the  Rules  of  Christ  and 
his  apostles  in  Church  Matters,  and  Watchfully  avoiding  Sinful 
Stumbling  Blocks  and  Contentions,  or  giving  occasion  of  offence  to 
our  Brethren. 

"  Furthermore  We  Do  give  up  our  Children,  with  ourselves,  to  the 
Lord,  and  Promise  by  the  Grace  of  God  to  Walk  In  our  houses  in 
the  fear  of  God  ;  Maintaining  his  Worship,  and  reading  the  holy 
Scriptures  and  Training  up  all  ym  of  our  Charge  in  the  Faith  of 
holiness  and  virtue. 

"  And  all  this  we  Profess  and  Promise  and  Do,  flying  to  the  Blood 
of  the  Covenant  for  the  Pardon  of  our  Sins  and  Praying  that  the 
glorious  Lord  Jesus  the  Great  Shepard  and  head  of  Influences 
would,  by  his  Spirit  Prepare  and  Strengthen  Us  for  Every  Good 
Word  to  Do  his  Will  working  in  us  that  which  is  Well  Pleasing  in 
his  sight.     To  whom  be  Glory  for  Ever  —  Amen." 

This  covenant  was  used  by  the  church,  without  any  alteration, 
after  Mr.  Humphrey's  dismission,  till  the  close  of  Mr.  Estabrook's 
ministry.  Of  course  it  was  not  very  strictly  construed.  It  was  a 
kind  of  bond  of  union  for  the  church,  and  probably  was  regarded 
as  such  rather  than  as  a  test  of  doctrinal  belief.  So  we  would  have 
all  church  covenants  regarded  ;  for,  indeed,  according  to  our  idea 
of  a  church,  doctrines  which  are  matters  of  dispute  among  Christians 
should  have  no  place  in  the  covenant.  A  Christian  church  should 
be  kept  entirely  free  from  all  controverted  topics  in  theology.  It 
should  be  neutral  ground,  where  all  devoted  Christians  who  are  de- 
sirous to  cultivate  more  of  their  Master's  Divine  spirit  in  their  own 
bosoms  can  meet  and  hold  religious  communion  with  each  other, 
each  one  undisturbed  in  his  own  peculiar  theological  belief.  The 
church  should  never  be  circumscribed  with  a  creed,  and  its  privi- 
leges for  spiritual  culture  barred  to  all  who  differ  a  shade  in  their 


83 

belief  from  him  who  happened  to  write  the  covenant.  To  so  per- 
vert the  church  from  its  heavenly  purpose  is  to  limit  and  vastly 
contract  its  sphere  of  spiritual  influence.  We  rejoice  that  the 
fathers  of  this  church  did  not  so  limit  the  bond  of  their  ecclesiastical 
union. 


O.   (Page  23.) 

By  the  kindness  of  Deacon  Henry  Humphreys,  of  Dorchester, 
who  has  in  his  possession  a  manuscript  genealogy  of  the  Hum- 
phreys, I  am  enabled  to  give  the  ancestral  lineage  of  the  first  minis- 
ter of  Pequoiag,  viz. :  —  "  Rev.  James  Humphrey  was  son  of  Jonas, 
who  was  the  son  of  Hopestill,  who  was  the  son  of  Elder  James, 
who  came  with  his  father  Jonas  from  England  in  the  year  1634." 
Hence  it  appears  that  Rev.  James  Humphrey  was  great-grandson 
to  Elder  James  H.,  upon  whose  monument  in  the  ancient  grave- 
yard in  Dorchester  is  the  following  inscription  :  — 

"Elder  James  Humphreys,  who  died  May  12,  1686,  aged  78. 

"  Inclosed  within  this  shrine  is  sacred  dust, 
And  only  waits  for  the  rising  of  the  just. 
Most  useful  while  he  lived  ;  adorned  his  station, 
Even  to  old  age  he  serv'd  his  generation  : 
Since  his  death  thought  of  with  great  veneration. 

,      "  How  great  a  blessing  this  Ruling  Elder  he 

Unto  the  Church  and  Town  and  Pastors  three. 
Mather  he  first  did  by  him  help  receive ; 
Flint  he  did  next  of  burdens  much  relieve  ; 
Renowned  Danforth  he  did  help  with  skill. 
Esteemed  high  by  all  ;  —  bear  fruit  until 
Yielding  to  death  his  glorious  seat  did  fill." 

(Barber's  Hist.  Col.,  p.  467.) 


P.    (Page  29.) 


There  were  a  few  people  in  this  town  who,  in  connection  with 
persons  belonging  to  Royalston,  formed  a  Baptist  Society,  which 


84 

met  "  for  religious  worship  on  the  Lord's  Day  in  Royalston  and 
Athol "  as  early  as  1774,  as  appears  from  certificates  of  member- 
ship recorded  on  the  Town  Book.  In  the  following  year  they  ap- 
pear to  have  met  regularly  in  Athol.  The  names  of  only  fourteen 
persons  appear,  at  this  date,  as  members. 

The  present  Baptist  Church  was  organized  April  13,  1813-  A 
branch  to  the  Baptist  Church  in  Templeton  was  organized  in  this 
town  June  4,  1810.  (Town  Records,  p.  91.  Bap.  Ch.  Rec- 
ords.) 


Q.    (Page  34.) 

The  bantering  tone  of  this  vote  will  be  better  understood  when  it 
is  known  that  the  town  had  previously  (1780,  March  6th  and  20th) 
by  two  distinct  votes  refused  to  "  make  Mr.  Humphrey  any  con- 
sideration "  on  account  of  the  depreciation  of  the  currency,  or  to 
pay  "  one  half "  of  what  was  due  him  of  his  salary  "  in  the  old 
way,  viz.  in  grain,  wool,  flax,  cheese,  &c.  &c." 

How  much  the  currency  had  depreciated,  and  likewise  how 
much  Mr.  Humphrey's  stipulated  salary  had  diminished  in  conse- 
quence, will  appear  from  the  fact,  that  the  town,  this  same  year,  in 
making  provision  for  purchasing  clothing  for  the  Continental  army, 
agreed  to  "  give  sixty  pounds  for  a  blanket,  thirty-six  pounds  for  a 
pair  of  shoes,  thirty  pounds  for  a  shirt,  and  tioenty  pounds  for  a 
pair  of  stockings."  Mr.  Humphrey's  salary  was  a  trifle  over  fifty- 
tivo  pounds  per  annum. 

It  must,  however,  be  remembered  that  the  town,  as  well  as  their 
minister,  suffered  from  the  depreciation,  though  probably  not  so 
severely. 


R.    (Page  57.) 


After  the  dismission  of  Rev.  Mr.  Shaw,  August,  1836,  the  pulpit 
of  the  First  Society  was  supplied  by  different  clergymen  in  the 


85 

vicinity,  who  could  be  engaged  for  a  few  Sabbaths  at  a  time,  till 
November,  1838,  when  Rev.  Stephen  A.  Barnard  was  engaged,  and 
continued  to  preach  to  the  society  until  May,  1840.  From  this 
date  the  society  was  destitute  of  a  minister,  and  the  pulpit  supplied 
by  different  preachers,  until  May  1,  1842,  when  Rev.  Crawford 
Nightingale  was  engaged,  and  continued  to  preach  here  about  two 
years.  After  Mr.  Nightingale  left,  the  society  was  again  supplied 
with  preaching  by  different  ministers  in  the  vicinity  until  May  18, 
1845,  when  Rev.  E.  J.  Gerry  was  engaged  for  one  year. 

From  the  expiration  of  Mr.  Gerry's  engagement  the  pulpit  was, 
part  of  the  time,  supplied  by  neighbouring  preachers  as  they  could 
be  obtained,  and  money  raised  to  pay  them,  and  part  of  the  time 
the  society  was  destitute  of  preaching,  till  July,  1847,  when  the 
present  pastor  was  engaged  to  preach  alternately  half  of  the  time 
to  this  society  and  half  of  the  time  to  the  society  in  Warwick, 
which  he  did  for  nine  months.  At  the  expiration  of  which  time  he 
was  invited  to  become  the  pastor  of  this  church  and  society,  and 
was  ordained  April  19,  1848. 

Since  he  commenced  the  duties  of  minister  to  this  parish,  the 
people  of  the  society  have  manifested  an  earnest  desire  to  sustain 
constant  religious  teaching  on  the  Sabbath.  His  efforts  have  been 
seconded  by  their  hearty  cooperation.  Success  has  been  the  re- 
sult. The  house  of  worship  has  been  remodelled,  and  neatly  fur- 
nished ;  and  by  the  kindness  of  a  benevolent  lady  of  the  parish, 
Mrs.  Lydia  Noyes,  an  excellent  organ  has  been  placed  in  it.  The 
congregation  has  very  much  increased  in  numbers,  and  it  continues 
to  give  evidence  of  an  increasing  interest  in  vital  Christianity. 
Our  Sabbath  school  does,  and  promises,  well.  Large  additions 
have  been  made  to  its  libraries  within  a  few  years,  which  now 
number  between  five  and  six  hundred  volumes.  The  kind  feeling 
which  has  been  manifested  by  the  people  of  the  parish  towards 
their  minister  has  rendered  his  most  difficult  labors  pleasant,  and 
cheered  him  on  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  Let  the  same  in- 
terest and  effort  continue  to  increase,  and  increasing  prosperity  and 
usefulness  will  continue  to  smile  upon  this  society. 


86 


NOTE  I. 

This  town  took  an  active  part  in  resisting  the  oppressive  policy 
of  Great  Britain,  and  in  carrying  on  the  Revolutionary  war. 
There  appear  to  have  been  very  few  of  its  inhabitants  who  were 
opposed  to  the  "  American  cause." 

The  "  coming  event "  seems  to  have  "  cast  its  shadow  be- 
fore "  unto  this  place  as  early  as  May,  1770,  when  the  inhabitants 
appropriated  "  six  pounds  to  provide  a  stock  of  ammunition  for  the 
town." 

On  receiving  intelligence  of  the  order  for  closing  the  port  of 
Boston,  a  town  meeting  was  called,  of  which  Deacon  Aaron  Smith 
was  moderator  (July  7,  1774),  at  which  it  was  "  unanimously 
agreed  to  enter  into  a  solemn  league  or  covenant,"  making  it  oblig- 
atory upon  themselves  "  to  renounce  the  use  and  consumption  of 
all  goods  that  shall  arrive  in  America  from  Great  Britain  from  and 
after  the  last  day  of  August  next,"  until  the  repeal  of  the  Harbour 
Bill,  or  some  other  redress  of  grievances  should  be  effected. 

At  the  same  meeting  a  committee  of  correspondence  was  ap- 
pointed, and  it  was  voted  to  transmit  an  attested  copy  of  the  trans- 
actions of  the  meeting  to  the  committee  of  correspondence  at 
Boston. 

On  the  25th  of  August  ensuing,  "  at  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders 
and  other  inhabitants  of  the  town  duly  assembled  and  convened, 
the  following  resolves  were  unanimously  passsed,  viz.  :  — 

"  1st.  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  incumbent  duty  of  every  inhabitant 
of  these  British  colonies,  and  more  especially  of  this  distressed 
province,  to  unite  together  in  one  firm  bond  of  union,  and  to  exert 
themselves  to  the  uttermost  of  their  power  in  all  lawful  and  prudent 
measures  to  maintain,  defend,  and  secure  to  ourselves  and  posterity 
all  those  rights  and  privileges  which  we  are  justly  entitled  to  as 
men  and  Christians,  and  as  subjects  of  a  free  government. 

"  2dly.  Resolved,  That  we  acknowledge  ourselves  loyal  and  duti- 
ful subjects  to  King  George  the  Third,  whose  Crown  and  Dignity 
we  ever  stand  ready  to  maintain  and  defend  so  long  as  he  shall  rule 
and  govern  agreeable  to  the  English  constitution  and  our  chartered 
rights.  But,  that  the  authority  of  late  claimed  by  the  British  Par- 
liament, to  make  laws  binding  on  the  colonies  in  all  cases  whatever, 


87 

is  unconstitutional  and  subversive  of  our  natural  and  chartered 
rights,  oppressive  to  America,  and  in  no  way  beneficial  to  the 
mother  country. 

"  3dly.  Resolved,  That  the  late  Act  of  the  British  Parliament,  for 
blocking  up  the  port  or  harbor  of  Boston,  by  which  the  town  is  sur- 
rounded by  fleets  and  armies,  exposed  to  the  abuses  and  insults  of 
a  lawless  soldiery,  and  by  which  the  means  of  their  subsistence  is 
almost  entirely  wrenched  out  of  their  hands,  is  very  unjust  and 
cruel,  contrary  to  all  equity  and  reason,  and  injurious  and  oppres- 
sive to  this  Province. 

"  4thly.  Resolved,  That  the  two  late  Bills  of  the  British  Parliament, 
by  which  our  charter  Rights  are  entirely  taken  away,  and  the  free 
constitution  of  this  government  utterly  annihilated  and  destroyed, 
and  by  which,  (if  submitted  to,)  we  shall  soon  be  reduced  to  the 
most  abject  slavery  and  bondage,  are  a  violation  of  the  sacred  com- 
pact between  Great  Britain  and  this  Province  ;  and  such  a  breach 
of  the  natural  rights  and  privileges  of  mankind,  and  so  repugnant 
to  the  mutual  obligations  we  are  all  by  the  law  of  nature  under  to- 
wards one  another,  that  no  person  (unless  they  are  lost  to  all  the 
tender  feelings  of  humanity)  but  must  reject  with  abhorrence  the 
thought  of  thus  tyrannizing  over  their  fellow  creatures. 

"  5thly.  Resolved,  That  we  stand  ready  to  join  our  feeble  efforts 
in  conjunction  with  the  rest  of  our  brethren  in  these  colonies,  or  of 
this  Province,  to  prevent  the  above-mentioned  acts  from  taking 
place,  and  also  to  assist,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  in  the  most 
prudent  and  likely  measures  that  may  be  adopted,  to  recover  and 
secure  our  lost  liberties  and  privileges  ;  and  if  it  be  not  too  much 
boldness  and  presumption  for  so  small  a  town  to  mention  any  par- 
ticular plan,  we  are  humbly  of  opinion  that  it  would  have  a  happy 
tendency  to  work  our  deliverance,  if  the  Province  should  reassume 
the  first  charter  that  was  given  them,  and,  at  the  same  time,  let  the 
mother  country  know  that  we  not  only  remain  willing,  but  even  de- 
sirous, to  continue  loyal  and  dutiful  subjects  to  King  George,  con- 
sistent with  the  liberties  and  privileges  granted  in  said  charter. 

"  6thly.  Resolved,  That,  as  committees  from  the  several  towns  in 
this  county  have  lately  had  a  meeting  at  Worcester,  which  stands 
adjourned  to  the  last  Tuesday  in  this  month,  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
sulting together  and  agreeing  on  some  measures  for  this  county  to 
take  to  prevent  our  courts  from  being  held  on,  or  modelled  accord- 


88 

ing  to  the  new  Establishment,  we  hereby  signify  our  approbation  of 
the  same,  and  that  we  stand  ready  to  join  in  such  measures  as  shall 
be  thought  most  likely  to  effect  the  above  purpose  ;  and  as  the 
committee  of  correspondence  for  this  town  have  sent  one  of  their 
members  to  attend  the  above  mentioned  meeting,  we  fully  concur 
with,  and  approve  of,  their  conduct  in  so  doing,  and  that  William 
Bigelow  and  Daniel  Lamson  be  and  are  hereby  appointed  to  at- 
tend the  adjournment  of  said  meeting. 

"  7thly.  Resolved,  That  if  any  person  shall  accept  any  commission 
or  post  of  office  to  serve  under  the  new  Establishment,  he  ought  to 
be  looked  upon  and  treated  as  an  enemy  to  his  country ;  as  he, 
thereby,  is  joining  with,  and  lending  a  helping  hand  to  those  who 
are  endeavouring  to  enslave  us. 

"  The  foregoing  Resolves  being  distinctly  read  paragraph  by 
paragraph  in  an  open  town  meeting  convened  in  Athol,  August  25, 
A.  D.  1774,  were  unanimously  accepted  and  ordered  to  be  re- 
corded. 

"  Pr.  Wm.  Bigelow,  Town  Clerk.     Aaron  Smith,  Moderator." 

At  a  legal  meeting  of  the  town  on  the  29th  of  September  fol- 
lowing, it  was  voted  "  to  enlist  thirty  men  exclusive  of  officers  to 
send  in  case  of  alarm,"  and  also  "  to  have  two  companies  of  militia 
in  town,"  one  on  each  side  of  the  river. 

At  this  meeting  William  Bigelow  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  attend 
and  represent  the  town  "  in  the  Provincial  Congress  to  be  holden 
at  Concord  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  October,"  ensuing.  Also  at 
the  same  meeting  Mr.  Bigelow  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  attend  at 
Cambridge  and  "join  with  the  Provintial  Congress  at  their  first 
sessions  after  the  Continental  Congress  breaks  up  and  the  members 
that  went  from  this  province  return  home." 

January  11,  1775,  the  town  voted  "that  we  do  approve  of  and 
will  adopt  the  non  importation  agreement  recommended  by  the 
Continental  Congress."  At  this  meeting  the  town  chose  a  "  Com- 
mittee of  Inspection  to  see  that  the  resolves  of  the  Continental  and 
Provintial  Congresses  are  faithfully  observed." 

These  meetings,  as  all  previous  meetings  of  the  town  had  been, 
were  warned  in  "  His  Majesty's  name."  The  last  meeting  that 
was  so  warned  was  held  March  6,  1775.  After  this  date  the  town 
does  not  appear  to  have  acknowledged  the  authority  of  the  king. 


89 

June  15,<1775,  the  town  met  and  voted  to  raise  a  "  Minute  Com- 
pany," to  consist  of  twenty-five  men,  including  officers.  July  24, 
1776,  voted  "  to  grant  six  pounds  to  each  man  who  should  enlist 
into  the  colony  service  to  go  to  Canada."  March  10,  1777,  "  voted 
to  raise  thirty  pounds  to  provide  a  town  stock  of  ammunition." 
April  29,  voted  to  pay  twenty-four  pounds  to  each  man  who 
"  shall  enlist  himself  into  the  Continental  army  for  three  years  or 
during  the  war."  The  selectmen  were  directed  to  borrow  the 
money.  June  6,  six  pounds  were  granted  in  addition  to  the  above  to 
each  man  so  enlisting.  December  16,  "  voted  to  raise  1,128  pounds 
16  shillings,  to  pay  the  extraordinary  charges  of  the  war."  January 
22,  1778,  "  Voted  to  accept  and  approve  of  the  Articles  of  Confed- 
eration and  perpetual  Union  between  the  several  States  of  America, 
as  drawn  up  by  the  Congress."  April  9,  voted  not  to  accept  of  "  the 
plan  or  form  of  government  for  this  State,  as  agreed  upon  by  the 
Convention  of  said  State,  Feb.  28,  1778."  Voted  "  to  supply  the 
families  of  those  that  are  gone  into  the  army  with  the  necessaries 
of  life."  June  16,  voted  "  to  raise  125  pounds,  11  shillings,  to  pay 
for  the  continental  clothing  and  for  transporting  the  same  to  the 
army."  July  15,  voted  "  to  raise  1583  pounds  three  shillings  and 
eight  pence  to  pay  those  men  that  have  done  services  in  the  war 
for  the  town  of  Athol."  June  28,  1779,  voted  "  to  give  500  pounds 
for  each  man  that  will  engage  in  the  nine  months  continental  ser- 
vice." Voted  "  to  allow  170  pounds  for  any  man  that  will  engage  in 
the  six  months  service  to  Providence  Plantation."  October  27,  1780, 
voted  to  allow  7,650  pounds  to  Oliver  Holman,  for  beef  procured 
by  him,  as  agent  of  the  town,  for  the  army.  May  14,  1781,  voted 
"  to  raise  112  hard  dollars  to  provide  the  town  stock  of  amunition." 

Many  other  votes  of  minor  importance  relative  to  the  war  were 
passed  by  the  town.* 

*  Two  young  men  from  this  town,  one  by  the  name  of  Morse  and  the 
other  by  the  name  of  Goddard,  were  simultaneously  killed  by  the  enemy 
at  the  battle  of  White  Plains.  "  Mr.  Earl  Cutting,  their  Townsman  and 
Messmate,  was  between  them  when  they  fell."  (Mr.  Humphrey's  MS., 
before  referred  to.) 


12 


90 


NOTE  II. 

This  town  retained  its  Indian  name  until  March  6th,  1762,  when 
it  was  incorporated  *  and  called  Athol,  out  of  respect  to  some  per- 
son or  persons,  it  is  said,  who  removed  from  Athol  in  Scotland  to 
this  State. 

The  first  order  to  warn  a  town  meeting  under  the  act  of  incor- 
poration was  issued  to  George  Cutting,  of  Athol,  "  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal inhabitants,"  by  John  Murry,  of  Rutland,  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  who  was  empowered  to  issue  such  order  by  an  "  Act  of  the 
Great  and  General  Court."  The  order  was  dated  at  Rutland, 
"  15th  of  March  1762,  in  the  second  year  of  his  present  Majesty's 
Reign."  The  first  meeting  of  the  town  was  held  agreeably  to 
this  order  on  Monday,  the  29th  of  March,  1762,  at  which  John 
Murry,  Esq.  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  William  Oliver,  Aaron 
Smith,  and  John  Haven,  Selectmen. 

Originally  the  town  was  six  miles  square.  Subsequently  a  por- 
tion was  set  off  to  Gerry,  now  Phillipston,  afterwards  another  por- 
tion to  Orange,  and  still  another  to  Royalston.  Within  a  few  years 
a  portion  of  the  town  of  New  Salem,  called  Podunk  (the  Indian 
name  of  the  locality),  has  been  annexed  to  Athol. 

On  the  Church  Book  is  the  following  minute  :  —  "  The  number 
of  souls  [in  this  town]  according  to  the  census  taken  by  the  Mar- 
shal in  September,  1790,  was  862,  of  which  were  females  442,  males 
420,  and  six  negros." 

The  whole  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  year  1840  was  1,566. 
The  number  of  inhabitants  on  the  first  of  June,  1850,  was,  males 
1,046,  females  987.     Total,  2,033. 


NOTE  III. 


The  first  public  provision  made  for  schools  in  town  was  at  a 
town  meeting,  March  7,  1763,  when  it  was  voted  to  raise  thirteen 
pounds  six  shillings  eight  pence,  "  to  provide  a  school,"  and  "  to 


*  For  Act  of  Incorporation,  see  Acts  and  Laws  of  His  Mafs.Prov.  of 
the  Mass.  Bay  in  N.  E.     Boston,  M  D  CC LIX.     Folio  ed.  p.  425 . 


91 

divide  the  school  money  by  the  River  and  those  that  live  on  the 
south  side  to  have  what  they  pay  towards  the  sum  raised  ;  and 
those  that  live  on  the  north  side  to  have  what  they  pay  toward  the 
sd  sum." 

The  first  school-house  was  built  (according  to  the  remembrance 
of  an  intelligent  lady,  now  ninety-four  years  old,  who  was  born 
in  town,  daughter  of  Wm.  Bigelow)  on  the  Street  "  south  of  the 
fort."  According  to  the  records,  the  town  voted,  March  3,  1761, 
"  to  build  two  school  houses,  one  on  the  West  Hill  between  Deacon 
Aaron  Smith's  and  Ichabod  Dexter's,  the  other  on  the  East  Hill 
[or  Street]  at  the  head  of  Capt.  Field's  Lane,  so  called  ;  and  the 
above  houses  are  to  be  built  sixteen  feet  wide  and  eighteen  feet 
long  and  six  feet  and  a  half  stud."  Probably  these  were  the  first 
school-houses  in  town. 

The  first  schoolmasters,  according  to  the  recollection  of  the 
aged  lady  before  named,  were  Mr.  Merrick,  Mr.  Stone,  and  Mr. 
Sampson. 

May  15,  1770,  the  town  voted  "to  have  a  school  kept  at  the 
south  end  of  Meeting-house  Hill,  and  one  at  the  north  end  ;  one  on 
the  east  part  of  the  town ;  one  at  the  southwest  part ;  one  on  West 
Hill ;  and  one  on  Chestnut  Hill ;  and  each  part  to  enjoy  the  bene- 
fit of  the  money  they  pay  for  schooling." 

The  first  division  of  the  town  into  school  districts,  or  "  squad- 
arns,"  as  they  were  termed,  was  made  May  18,  1774  ;  when  it 
was  voted,  "  that  the  West  Hill  and  all  west  of  Tully  east  branch 
be  a  squadarn  for  a  school  ;  that  Chestnut  Hill,  so  called,  and  all 
east  of  the  east  branch  of  Tully,  north  of  the  River,  be  a  squadarn 
for  a  school  ;  and  that  four  squadarns  for  schools  be  made  on  the 
south  side  of  the  River." 


NOTE    IV. 


Two  or  three  negro  slaves  were  formerly  held  in  this  town.  Of 
these,  one,  "  Old  Violet,"  is  well  remembered.  For  many  years 
she  was  the  slave  of  the  first  minister.  At  length  she  was  sold  by 
Mr.  Humphrey  to  Mr.  Thomas  Stratton,  and  finally,  after  the 
death  of  Mr.  Stratton  and  the  manumission  of  slaves  in  this  Com- 


92 

monwealth,  she  was  supported  by  the  town  until  she  died,  in  the 
poor-house,  at  a  very  advanced  age,  about  twenty  years  since. 

Another,  a  negro  boy  named  Titus,  was  given  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Humphrey  by  Rev.  Aaron  Whitney  of  Petersham.  He  died  in 
Mr.  Humphrey's  family,  Nov.  7,  1773,  aged  only  three  years  and 
six  months.  (Church  Records.)  At  his  funeral  Rev.  Mr.  Hum- 
phrey preached  a  sermon  from  this  text.  "  The  small  and  the  great 
are  there,  and  the  servant  is  free  from  his  master."  —  Job  iii.  19. 

Mr.  H,  it  is  said,  had  another  slave,  named  Moody.  He  died 
young.  There  is  no  satisfactory  evidence  that  any  other  person 
in  town  kept  slaves. 


NOTE   V. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  members  of  the  First  Church  and  Society 
in  Athol,  August  22,  1850,  after  making  choice  of  Deacon  Jonathan 
Stratton  for  chairman,  it  was  unanimously  voted  to  celebrate  the 
one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  organization  of  said  church. 

Deacon  Jonathan  Stratton,  John  Harvey  Humphrey,  S.  F. 
Cheney,  George  Sprague,  John  Kendall,  Laban  Morse,  Lyman  W. 
Hapgood,  H.  W.  Carter,  and  Theodore  Jones,  Esq.  were  chosen  a 
committee  of  arrangements  to  make  suitable  preparations  for  the 
proper  celebration  of  this  interesting  anniversary. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  above  committee  of  arrangements,  it  was 
voted  to  insert  a  notice  of  the  celebration  in  the  White  Flag,  pub- 
lished in  town,  and  in  the  Christian  Register. 

H.  W.  Carter  and  L.  W.  Hapgood  were  appointed  a  sub-com- 
mittee to  invite  the  members  of  the  other  religious  societies  in  town 
to  be  present  at  the  celebration.  H.  W.  Carter  was  appointed  a 
committee  of  correspondence  to  invite  the  surviving  contemporaries 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Estabrook  in  the  ministry,  and  other  guests,  to  be 
present. 

The   exercises  of  the  celebration  commenced  at  two  o'clock 
P.  M.,  and  were  as  follows,  viz.  :  — 

I.  A  voluntary  by  the  choir. 
IT.  Hymn  751  of  the  Cheshire  Collection. 


93 

III.  Prayer  by  Rev.  Dr.  Willard  of  Deerfield. 

IV.  Selections  from  Scripture  read  by  Rev.  Preserved  Smith 

of  Deerfield. 
V.  Hymn  745  of  Cheshire  Collection. 

VI.  Discourse. 

VII.  Prayer  by  Rev.  Alpheus  Harding  of  New  Salem. 

VIII.  Hymn,  written  for  the  occasion,  by  Mrs.  M.  E.  Clarke. 

God  of  our  fathers,  at  thy  shrine 

We  raise  our  souls  in  humble  prayer ; 
With  grateful  hearts  we  own  thy  love, 

And,  waiting,  bow,  thy  suppliants  there. 

Where  first  those  fathers  trembling  stood 

In  doubt  and  fear  to  worship  thee, 
Their  filial  offspring  now  can  stand, 

From  all  those  doubts  and  terrors  free. 

We  thank  thee  for  that  noble  zeal 

Which  bade  our  sires  those  trials  brave  ; 

We  thank  thee  for  that  vital  faith 
Which  thou  to  every  bosom  gave. 

O  Father,  may  that  holy  shrine 

Those  pious  spirits  planted  here 
Be  ever  our  abiding  church, — 
•  Be  ever  to  our  hearts  most  dear. 

O,  may  that  peace  be  ne'er  disturbed 

Which  in  our  happy  union  reigns ; 
And  may  that  love  which  warms  our  souls 

For  ever  be  a  living  flame. 

When  those  who  round  this  altar  bend 

Shall  mingle  with  their  fathers'  dust, 
O  God,  to  hearts  no  less  sincere 

Do  thou  this  ancient  church  intrust. 

IX.  Benediction  by  Rev.  Dr.  Willard. 

The  congregation  then  united  in  singing  "  From  all  that  dwell 


94 

below  the  skies,"  to  the  tune  of  Old  Hundred  ;  after  which  the 
whole  crowded  assembly  repaired  to  the  hall  above  the  church,  and 
partook  of  a  bountiful  collation  prepared  with  great  taste  by  the 
ladies  of  the  First  Parish. 

The  repast  being  over,  the  meeting  was  addressed  by  the  Chair- 
man, Rev.  Preserved  Smith  ;  after  which  the  following  original 
hymn,  written  for  the  occasion,  by  Mr.  Alden  Spooner,  was  sung 
by  the  choir :  — 

Within  a  lone,  sequestered  glen, 

All  desolate  and  wild, 
The  haunt  of  beasts  and  savage  men, 

Here  roamed  the  forest  child. 

Beneath  the  tall,  primeval  wood 

And  mossy  mural  crag, 
There  rolled  a  deep  impetuous  flood, 

The  rapid,  dark  Pequoiag. 

Here  in  this  wilderness-abode 

Our  pious  fathers  rear 
A  consecrated  shrine  to  God, 

In  humble  praise  and  prayer. 

Here  their  devoted  songs  of  praise 

In  accents  sweetly  flow, 
And  here  the  suppliant's  voice  was  raised 

One  hundred  years  ago. 

Where  once  the  Indian's  wigwam  rose, 

Amid  the  tangled  vine, 
Now  bloom  the  sweet  and  fragrant  rose 

And  garden  eglantine. 

A  thousand  cattle  on  the  hills 

In  verdant  pastures  roam  ; 
The  whitened  fields  along  the  vales 

Proclaim  the  "  Harvest  Home." 


95 

The  artisan,  with  cunning  skill, 

Compels  the  idle  flood 
To  bow  obsequious  to  his  will, 

And  labor  for  his  good. 

When,  hark  !  is  heard  in  distance  far, 

Now  screeching  o'er  the  plain 
The  clarion  of  the  coming  car, 

With  its  rich-freighted  train. 

To  God  let  unborn  millions  raise, 

Where  once  the  Indian  roamed, 
United  paeans  to  his  praise 

Hundreds  of  years  to  come. 

Addresses  were  then  made  by  Rev.  Luther  Wilson  of  Peters- 
ham, Rev.  Crawford  Nightingale  of  Chicopee,  Rev.  Dr.  Wil- 
lard,  George  Hoyt,  M.  D.,  of  Athol,  and  Rev.  H.  F.  Bond  of 
Bar  re. 

The  exercises  of  the  evening  closed  with  a  select  piece  by  the 
choir ;  and  the  crowded,  happy  gathering  adjourned  the  meeting 
one  hundred  years. 


05s"  The  letters  received  relative  to  the  historical  facts  embraced  in 
the  foregoing  Discourse  and  Appendix,  together  with  such  historical 
papers  as  I  have  collected,  or  may  collect,  will  be  placed  with  the  Church 
Records  for  future  reference. 


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